Celebrating the Joy of Birds and the Community that helps them Thrive 

Millions of people across Canada care about birds. Whether it’s a song or a flash of colour on the wing, birds pull us into the natural world, sparking curiosity, connection and joy. Birds inspire everything we do at Birds Canada, and we know that they inspire the 40,000+ volunteers that spend time participating in our programs each year, making a lasting impact on bird conservation. 

On September 16, we flocked to the VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, a picturesque background for Anna’s Hummingbirds, Great Blue Herons and Steller’s Jays – to celebrate those volunteers and supporters. We were joined by Trisha Beaty, Birds Canada Board Member and Co-founder of the Sitka Foundation, Pete Davidson, Vice President of Science with Birds Canada, Wade Grant, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Patrick Nadeau, President and CEO of Birds Canada, and Dr. John Reynolds, FRSC, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University. Birds Canada staff shared highlights from the work we’re doing in BC, from studying the impact of shipping on birds in the Salish Sea, to projects that aim to monitor and protect Bank Swallows and Black Swifts. Attendees swapped stories of their favourite times spent monitoring birds: the pure delight of dawn choruses, spotting new and familiar species, and the friendships made.  

After a guided bird walk with Birds Canada experts, attendees heard inspiring words from esteemed guests and raised a glass to an exceptional announcement: a $2.6 million investment in Birds Canada’s programs from the Government of Canada.  

“Canadians have a special fondness for migratory birds. They can easily observe them, both in the city and in the countryside. I am inspired by the leadership of Citizen Scientists and organizations like Birds Canada that are helping build a stronger, more nature-positive future. The more we understand how birds are doing, the better we can act to protect them and our environment.” – Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change 

This investment will support a wide range of Birds Canada initiatives, including the Christmas Bird Count, Breeding Bird Atlases in three provinces, Species at Risk recovery planning in Ontario, American Woodcock Surveys in eastern Canada, and Conservation Planning for birds and their habitats. 

“This five-year agreement with Environment and Climate Change Canada empowers tens of thousands of Canadians to make meaningful contributions to nature conservation. The scientific evidence collected by these skilled volunteers will help conserve and steward important habitats so that the birds we love can thrive.” – Patrick Nadeau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Birds Canada 

Together, with thousands of volunteers across Canada, these monitoring programs generate the information we need to understand bird populations. The data collected will contribute to Birds Canada’s NatureCounts – one of the world's largest biodiversity databases – and will help direct conservation action where it will make the greatest impact.  

We know that this approach works, that sustained and focused conservation efforts can make a difference. Raptors and waterfowl are doing better now than they were in the 1970s, thanks to decades of dedicated work to understand and recover their populations. Today, according to the State of Canada’s Birds, aerial insectivores and grassland birds are now in greatest need of conservation attention. The work supported by this investment will help us focus efforts toward these species and their habitats. 

Thank you to all those who attended, and to the thousands of volunteers across Canada. It is a treat to spend time with the people who make our work possible, to share and learn from each other and relish in our love of birds. Together, we are Canada’s Voice for Birds.  

Thank you to RBC for their generous support in making this event possible.