Spend time with birds and connect with our bird experts
Interested in learning more about Canada’s birds? Need some inspiration? Or have some to share? Spend some time with birds and our bird experts virtually here. New content will be uploaded regularly. Please share your birding stories or bird activities with us at jallair@birdscanada.org, or on social media and we’ll help share the inspiration!
Latest Features
BIRDWATCH CANADA: SUMMER 2020, NUMBER 92
BirdWatch Canada is a quarterly magazine featuring articles about the conservation of Canada’s wild birds and their habitats, as well as updates from Birds Canada and its projects.
We have made our Summer issue available online so that more people can enjoy birds from the safety of their home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click to read the sample Special Report on Witless Bay Ecological Reserve by Jared Clarke.
What It’s Like to be a Bird with David Allen Sibley
The Toronto Ornithological Club’s Justin Peter speaks with David Sibley about his newest book, What It’s Like to Be a Bird
Enjoy a selection of resources, online courses, webinars and Facebook Live Events from the Toronto Bird Celebration with your host Andrés Jiménez here.
Articles
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP BIRDS THIS SUMMER
We created this list of specific examples that you can try this summer. If you’re spending more time than usual at home this year, maybe it’s the perfect time to take on a new project!
How Many Times Does A Swainson’s Thrush sing in one Day?
John Neville shares his property on Salt Spring Island, BC with a Swainson’s Thrush that sang 3,707 times on May 24, 2020.
A Roadmap to rescuing aerial insectivores
Aerial insectivores – birds that catch insects on the wing – have experienced the most severe decline of any group of birds.
Two New Articles on Common Loons
Read about Fantastic Loons And Where to Find Them and a New Study Helps Explain Why Loons are Raising Fewer Chicks in Ontario.
Birds in Focus
Watch and learn more about birds and some of the work we do at Birds Canada.
Saving Ontario’s Piping Plovers
Piping Plovers returned to Ontario to breed in 2007, after a 30 year absence. They’re drawn to our province’s largest sand beaches, where they share the shores with hundreds of beach goers each summer.
Ankur Khurana captured excellent footage of Piping Plovers at Wasaga Beach and Sauble Beach, and spoke to local coordinators about the role we all play in plover conservation.
NOW OFFERING HOME DELIVERY: THE BOREAL
The Boreal is home to hundreds of breeding bird species that pass through southern Canada on their way north to breed every spring, in addition to many year-round resident species. Find out how the ‘Boreal bird package’ can be delivered to your doorstep, or nearby pickup locations.
This webinar was presented by Birds Canada staff Natasha Barlow, Boreal Conservation Project Specialist, and Jody Allair, Director of Citizen Science and Community Engagement.
Bird Identification for Beginners
This workshop covers basic birdwatching tools, fundamentals of bird ID, and an overview of some bird groups found in Saskatchewan and the Canadian Prairies.
This workshop was presented and recorded by LeeAnn Latremouille, Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator, Birds Canada.
Podcasts
Connected to the land
In the first ever Connected to the Land Podcast, Ian Sherwood speaks to Jody Allair at Birds Canada about Citizen Science, backyard birding, and how birds can keep us grounded.
American Birding
Nate Swick at the ABA is joined by Corina Newsome & Tykee James, co-organizers of #BlackBirdersWeek, to discuss what the movement meant to them, and where we need to go from here.
SONGBIRDING PODCAST
Immerse yourself in the beauty of bird song with these annotated soundscapes and podcasts. Follow these links to get started: The Bruce Peninsula and Midsummer
Activities for Families
BIRD IDENTIFICATION TOOL
Did you see a bird in your yard that you haven’t seen before? Create a downloadable and printable field guide customized for your location and time of year to help nail down an identification.
JUNIOR BIRDER GUIDE
Download and print your own Junior Birder Journal and Activity Guide! Learn about birds, how to identify them, and what you can do to protect birds in your neighborhood.
FOR THE BIRDS
Fun crafts you can make at home like do-it-yourself bird feeders, suet treats, and bird cookies to help out birds.
YARD BIRD BINGO
Yard Bird Bingo is a fun activity that will have you taking a closer look at your backyard.
Videos
Report on 25 years of Marsh Monitoring in the Great Lakes Region
Read more about the Marsh Monitoring Program and view the entire report.
ARMSTRONG BIRD OF THE MONTH
Learn about feeder birds with Birds Canada staff.
Mark Cullen Gardening
Jody Allair joins Mark Cullen to talk about how to attract and support birds at your garden.
Virtual birding
Enjoy birds from home with live videos from nest and feeder cams.
NESTS
Watch live video of birds on the nest.
FEEDERS
Watch live video of birds at feeders.
Your Bird Moment
This stocky Buteo is easiest to spot during migration, when it forms spectacular “kettles” – swirling masses of soaring birds. + “Your Bird Moment”
YOUR BIRD MOMENT
The Yellow Warbler’s song is easy to remember. It sounds like it’s saying “sweet, sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet” – which is very fitting! + “YOUR BIRD MOMENT”
Your Bird Moment
As one of the largest, fastest, and most nimble eagles in North America, this raptor is able to target much larger prey than others. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Not just a king by name, the kingbird also has a small red patch on its crown, although this feature is usually hidden and seldom seen. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Least Flycatcher’s fiery attitude is well-concealed beneath a bland exterior. Birders sigh in frustration over the drab plumage that makes it nearly indistinguishable from other closely-related species. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Long-eared Owl is one of Canada’s most widespread species. It is found in almost every province, and throughout the northern hemisphere, including Eurasia and northern Africa. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Despite its name, the Philadelphia Vireo is seldom seen in Philadelphia. The oldest recorded Philadelphia Vireo was at least 8 years and 10 months old when found in Guatemala in 1970. It had been banded in Ontario in 1962. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Bonaparte’s Gull is the only gull to build a stick nest in a tree, usually a conifer. It also tends not to gorge on garbage or carrion, feeding on insects, fish, crustaceans, and molluscs instead. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
This species is known for the “dance” it performs during courtship and territorial disputes. Two birds of the same sex face off and bop their heads, often while an individual of the opposite sex watches. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Evening Grosbeak might be one of the most misunderstood birds in North America. Even its name – meant to suggest that it sings only in the evening – is based on a misconception. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Wood Thrush is revered for its ethereal song throughout its eastern North American range. In Canada, it is found in southern Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, and occasionally Manitoba. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Tennessee Warbler is a renowned spruce budworm specialist, with breeding populations at certain sites known to increase as much as tenfold in five years in response to budworm outbreaks. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Long-eared Owl is one of Canada’s most widespread species. It is found in almost every province, and throughout the northern hemisphere, including Eurasia and northern Africa. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Grebes have lobed (rather than webbed) feet – a feature that sets them apart from ducks and geese. Grebes’ feet are also set toward the back of their body, which is an adaptation for steering while diving. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Canada Jays survive without fresh food for long periods by storing food at all times of year in thousands of widely-scattered caches throughout their territories. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Common Redpolls are small, acrobatic, and lively finches found in the northern boreal region during the summer. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Common Redpolls are small, acrobatic, and lively finches found in the northern boreal region during the summer. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Least Flycatcher’s fiery attitude is well-concealed beneath a bland exterior. Birders sigh in frustration over the drab plumage that makes it nearly indistinguishable from other closely-related species. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Bonaparte’s Gull is the only gull to build a stick nest in a tree, usually a conifer. It also tends not to gorge on garbage or carrion, feeding on insects, fish, crustaceans, and molluscs instead. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
This stocky Buteo is easiest to spot during migration, when it forms spectacular “kettles” – swirling masses of soaring birds. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Despite its name, the Philadelphia Vireo is seldom seen in Philadelphia. The oldest recorded Philadelphia Vireo was at least 8 years and 10 months old when found in Guatemala in 1970. It had been banded in Ontario in 1962. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
As one of the largest, fastest, and most nimble eagles in North America, this raptor is able to target much larger prey than others. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
This species is known for the “dance” it performs during courtship and territorial disputes. Two birds of the same sex face off and bop their heads, often while an individual of the opposite sex watches. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Long-eared Owl is one of Canada’s most widespread species. It is found in almost every province, and throughout the northern hemisphere, including Eurasia and northern Africa. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Not just a king by name, the kingbird also has a small red patch on its crown, although this feature is usually hidden and seldom seen. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Long-eared Owl is one of Canada’s most widespread species. It is found in almost every province, and throughout the northern hemisphere, including Eurasia and northern Africa. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Grebes have lobed (rather than webbed) feet – a feature that sets them apart from ducks and geese. Grebes’ feet are also set toward the back of their body, which is an adaptation for steering while diving. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
Canada Jays survive without fresh food for long periods by storing food at all times of year in thousands of widely-scattered caches throughout their territories. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Wood Thrush is revered for its ethereal song throughout its eastern North American range. In Canada, it is found in southern Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, and occasionally Manitoba. + “Your Bird Moment”
YOUR BIRD MOMENT
The Yellow Warbler’s song is easy to remember. It sounds like it’s saying “sweet, sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet” – which is very fitting! + “YOUR BIRD MOMENT”
Your Bird Moment
The Evening Grosbeak might be one of the most misunderstood birds in North America. Even its name – meant to suggest that it sings only in the evening – is based on a misconception. + “Your Bird Moment”
Your Bird Moment
The Tennessee Warbler is a renowned spruce budworm specialist, with breeding populations at certain sites known to increase as much as tenfold in five years in response to budworm outbreaks. + “Your Bird Moment”
Flesh-footed Shearwater (a pelagic species infrequently recorded during summer months off the coast of BC within Canada) Photo: Yousif Attia