February 2nd is World Wetlands Day! This awareness day commemorates the 1971 adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. It’s also the perfect time to reflect on the global importance of these ecosystems, and to renew our commitment to protecting wetlands in Canada.
The 119th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season officially ended on 5 January 2019. Results are still coming in, but some highlights reported so far include a Western Kingbird seen during the Long Point count (a first for Ontario CBCs!) and surges in Eurasian Collared-Doves in the west (and even an appearance in Hamilton, ON).
Nestled between the imposing boreal forest and ridges of Riding Mountain National Park and the shores of Lake Manitoba are three relatively unknown Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). Thanks to support from Bird Studies Canada’s Baillie Fund – including donations collected by the Great Canadian Birdathon’s dedicated participants – the Manitoba IBA Program received a grant in 2018 to deliver outreach in these IBAs.
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to create those amazing bird atlases? We’re excited to announce the publication of a new guide on how to take a breeding bird atlas project from start to finish.
We know bird counts provide lots of memorable experiences. Funny, heartwarming, inspiring, or just plain unusual – we’d like to hear about them all. We invite you to enter the Great Backyard Bird Count story contest!
Each year, the global extinction risk to all bird species is assessed by BirdLife International, the official Red List Authority for birds for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The 2018 update has just been released.
On a spectacular sunny, calm day in mid-November, I had the opportunity to participate in a volunteer effort to document the Fraser Estuary Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). Starting at first light, 40 experienced birders set out to count birds across the 754 square kilometres of the Fraser Estuary IBA.
Recently, Bird Studies Canada staff presented some of our latest science at the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation’s sixth Research and Conservation Conference in Simcoe, Ontario.
It was 9 a.m. on Christmas morning 1900. That was the moment when, according to National Audubon Society data, “Wm. H. Moore of Scotch Lake, York County, New Brunswick” became Canada’s first Christmas Bird Counter.
Bird Studies Canada is deeply concerned by the proposal to establish a hunting season for the Double-crested Cormorant in Ontario through amendment to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and supporting regulations. As a science-based conservation organization, with decades of experience monitoring bird populations, we believe that the proposed changes pose significant harm to a native Ontario wildlife species, have the potential to negatively impact other wildlife species and habitats, and also lack scientific rationale or justification.
