Author: Danielle Ethier, PH.D., Senior Scientist, Birds Canada
Birds Canada’s first-ever Science in Action Report is a celebration of something powerful: what happens when decades of standardized monitoring, cutting‑edge tools, and thousands of passionate people come together for birds? It answers a big question in a very grounded way: How does science actually improve things for birds and the places they depend on?
What is the Science in Action Report?
The Science in Action Report is a new look at how Birds Canada’s science is driving conservation on the ground. The report pulls together key stories and numbers from across the country to show how data collected by more than 24,000 volunteers during 1.6 million hours in the field are being turned into better policies, restored habitats, and stronger protections for species at risk. This year’s Science in Action report brings to life the stories that science is revealing, the people behind them, and the birds that we observe and count using different methods, in order to understand how we can help their populations thrive. From our national data infrastructure to regional program delivery, each section of the report answers a simple question: Over the past year, what has our science done to help birds thrive?
Delivering Strong Science
At the heart of the report is a clear idea: science is not just about counting birds or publishing papers in scholarly journals —it’s about giving decision‑makers the evidence they need to act. Birds Canada calls this “Delivering Strong Science,” and it rests on three pillars: long‑term monitoring, innovative technology, and deep partnerships with volunteers, communities, Indigenous Nations, governments, and academics. Nationally, tools like the Motus Wildlife Tracking System and the NatureCounts data platform are transforming raw observations into clear conservation guidance. Motus has now tracked more than 60,000 animals from over 400 species using tiny radio tags and a growing network of more than 2,350 receiving stations across the hemisphere. NatureCounts integrates over 250 million bird records and 63,000 population trends from 24 monitoring programs, powering resources like the State of Canada’s Birds and countless conservation decisions.
Why science matters for birds
Many bird groups—especially grassland birds and shorebirds—are in serious trouble, while others like waterfowl and birds of prey show that recovery is possible when we act decisively. Science is the bridge between those two realities. Long‑term data reveal which species and habitats are declining, where threats are most acute, and which actions work. Whether it is tracking grassland birds on working ranches, mapping ship traffic against waterbird trends, or listening for elusive owls and nightjars, science gives birds a voice in decisions that affect them. Science is how Birds Canada listens to what birds are telling us—and turns that knowledge into real conservation change so bird populations can thrive.
How you can help
The Science in Action Report is also an invitation. None of this work happens without people who give their time, expertise, or financial support. If you’re inspired by these stories, there are three big ways to get involved:
- Volunteer for bird conservation: You can join monitoring programs in your region. Every checklist, day in the field, and every nest you help monitor becomes part of the evidence base that protects birds.
- Support strong science with a donation: Donations help keep long‑term programs running, maintain critical infrastructure like Motus and NatureCounts, and ensure that data are turned into tools and guidance that governments and communities can use. Your gift supports the species and places featured in the Science in Action Report—and many more that depend on the same habitats.
- Act for birds where you live: The report highlights big, coordinated efforts, but local actions matter too: creating and protecting bird‑friendly habitat, making windows safer, keeping cats indoors, and advocating for policies that protect wetlands, grasslands, forests, and coasts. When you use science‑based information to guide your choices and your voice, you become part of the “science in action” story.
Canada’s birds are sending us clear signals, and the Science in Action Report shows that we know how to listen. With continued support from volunteers, donors, and partners, we can turn even more of that knowledge into action for birds!
