Celebrating forty years of tradition, Yousif Attia recounts his trip to Haida Gwaii and explores their rich history, unique species, and generous people who made this Christmas Bird Count so special.
Share in the joy of birds during the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) and help make your community stronger for you and the birds. Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world’s bird species as possible over these four days. Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring—whether individual species are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats.
Wetlands provide food and shelter for numerous birds year-round: Whimbrels in west coast estuaries, Bonaparte’s Gulls on marshy lakes in the boreal, pelicans on prairie potholes, bitterns in Great Lakes coastal marshes, rails in wetlands along the St. Lawrence, sandpipers on Bay of Fundy mudflats, and on and on. Many bird species spend some or all of their lives in a wetland, so protecting them has never been more important
In a groundbreaking step to address the decline of grassland bird populations, Birds Canada and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) have launched the Bird-friendliness Index Incentive Pilot Program. Using the “holistic conservation model”, this new pilot program aims to address the needs of birds, biodiversity, and the people who make a living on the land.
In 2024, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the status of six bird species, two for the first time. Of the reassessed species, just one improved in status since its previous assessment; the remainder are unchanged, or reassessed at a higher threat level. Ninety-four bird species are now assessed to be at risk of extinction in Canada, a number that only keeps rising.
The Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) is a small but extraordinary songbird renowned for its incredible migratory journeys. Weighing just 12 grams, this bird connects boreal forests in North America to tropical regions in South America by traveling thousands of kilometers each year. For the last decade a dedicated group of researchers have been studying the complexities of Blackpoll Warbler migration in order to address the pressing need for conservation action.
Feeding birds is a wonderful way to connect with nature, support local wildlife, and enjoy the beauty of feathered friends right in your backyard. But to make the most of this rewarding hobby, it’s essential to choose the right feeder and seed type while maintaining a clean and safe environment for your avian visitors.
Joining the longest-running bird census is a way for all of us to help protect wild birds.
As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on our Avian Ambassador for the year—the Olive-sided Flycatcher, whose diplomatic mission began way back in May when they first arrived in Canada. They brought us an urgent message, but to understand it we must pay close attention.
Now in its 20th year of operation, the Avian Conservation and Ecology (ACE) scientific journal has now published over 500 articles on a diversity of topics that have been viewed online millions of times. The sound science and conservation recommendations that ACE provides are needed now more than ever. Dr Doug Tozer recently announced a number of changes to the team while showing gratitude for the people behind the magazine.
