Nature Canada

Press Release: Ottawa Bird Day

May 8, 2019 OTTAWA – Nature Canada in collaboration with the Ottawa Children’s Festival is hosting a free public event at LeBreton Flats Park on Saturday, May 11, 2019 to welcome back the birds. Ottawa Bird Day is part of World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), an annual event celebrating the spectacular journey of nearly 350 migratory bird species as they travel from their wintering grounds in Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean to their nesting habitat in Canada.

Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution” is the 2019 theme to raise awareness of the risks migratory birds face from ingesting plastics, to entanglement. On the heels of a major UN report sounding the alarm on the devastating impact of humans on nature, Bird Day events can help raise awareness of bird conservation and showcase how individuals can make a difference for wildlife.

“Local Bird Day events are a great opportunity for children and families to get outdoors, learn about migratory birds and be inspired to take part in conservation,” says Jill Sturdy, NatureHood Program Manager.

The Ottawa Bird Day event will take place rain or shine at LeBreton Flats Park from 10am to 3pm and will include naturalist-led walks to observe birds and their habitat and nature activities for all ages. Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna and Somerset Ward Councilor Catherine McKenney will make remarks and welcome participants just before noon.

Event participants will also get a rare chance to see owls and falcons in flight as part of a Birds of Prey demonstration put on by Falcon Education.

Similar events are taking place across the country and throughout the Americas to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, a project created by Environment for the Americas to raise awareness on the need to conserve birds and their habitats. Groups across the country have listed their events on a map hosted at http://birdday.ca, a joint initiative of Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada. Follow the discussion online using #BirddayEh.

For more information contact:
Jill Sturdy, 613-276-7226
jsturdy@naturecanada.ca

For the Ottawa event schedule go to here.

Nature Canada is the oldest national nature conservation charity in Canada that works to connect people to nature and in doing so protect and conserve wildlife and habitats. Over the past 75 years, Nature Canada has helped protect more than 63 million acres of parks and wildlife areas in Canada, and represents a network of over 100,000 members and supporters and more than 750 nature organizations across the country. www.naturecanada.ca

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