Bird Team Spotlight: Peterborough
Bird Friendly Peterborough is working hard in their community to educate and raise awareness about some of the lesser known topics when it comes to birding, such as how to identify a sick bird, cleaning of bird feeders to prevent disease transmission and what plants are best to attract pollinator bird species to your garden. The Peterborough Bird Team is led by five different organizations; the Kawartha Wildlife Centre, Riverview Park and Zoo, Peterborough Field Naturalists, GreenUP and Camp Kawartha. All of these partner organizations bring a different perspective and set of expertise to the amazing work that Bird Friendly Peterborough does in their community.
As Bird Friendly Peterborough’s focus is on education and outreach, they are planning to host a variety of different events for the public as they work towards becoming Bird Friendly Certified. In partnership with Riverview Park and Zoo, Bird Friendly Peterborough is hoping to create a community space to appreciate and observe birds for folks from all backgrounds and experiences. They are also distributing bird feeder kits for children with proper education on their best placement and cleaning practices.
Other events include the ethics of birding, how to start birding as well as how to log and track the species you observe on your outings using eBird and iNaturalist. Bird Friendly Peterborough also participated in Global Bird Rescue Week.
If you would like to learn more about the Bird Friendly Peterborough team check out the Team Profiles below or visit their website for more information. Bird Friendly Peterborough is also on Facebook.
Thom Luloff — Chair, Bird Friendly Peterborough
Thom is a Professor of Conservation Biology at Fleming College, having completed his degrees in medical science from the University of Western Ontario. He is the Chair of the Board for Kawartha Wildlife Centre, using his background in natural history to help this new wildlife rehabilitation organization implement ecologically sound practices that best serve Ontario’s native species. Thom grew up outside of Pembroke, Ontario, and currently lives in Peterborough County with his wife and three kids. His favourite colour is green and he has a completely irrational dislike of chocolate ice cream.
Jacob Rodenburg — Steering Committee Member
Jacob is an award-winning educator who has taught in the field of Outdoor Education for more than 30 years. He is currently the Executive Director of Camp Kawartha, a summer camp, outdoor and environmental education centre. He teaches part time at Trent University in environmental education. Jacob has published a number of articles on children, nature and the environment. Recently Jacob co-authored an award-winning book called “The Big Book of Nature Activities” with naturalist Drew Monkman. Jacob conceived of an environmental framework for children of all ages and is working with multiple stakeholders to implement this. Called the Pathway to Stewardship & Kinship, this approach
Cathy Mitchell — Steering Committee Member
is an Environmental Technologist with specialties in energy management, climate change, sustainable business, community engagement and water protection. Cathy is in charge of education, outreach, volunteers and development at Canada’s only free-admission accredited zoo. The Park and Zoo team are working to make the accessible, educational and recreational facility more bird-friendly and help visitors learn to do the same and work, school and home.
Reem Ali — Chair, Bird Friendly Peterborough
Reem Ali is one of the founding members of BFP. She started birding in 2018 and has since grown to love all things birds! Reem brings project management and community development skills to the BFP Team that support its development and contribute to its success. Her involvement in the Peterborough community has helped BFP expand its networks and establish strong, strategic, and sustainable partnerships. Reem is dedicated to supporting diversity and representation in the environmental movement. Through her own experiences, she sees inclusion in these spaces as a privilege that some must seek, at times only made possible through opportunities that we help create and offer intentionally to others.
Zachary Steele — Bird Friendly Peterborough Implementation Officer
Zack Steele is BFP’s first ever Program Implementation Officer. He is also the Owner & Operator of Kawartha Bird Control, a conservation-based business that offers avian solutions for nuisance and invasive species such as falconry-based bird abatement. Zack has been a licensed falconer for over 12 years and incorporates this passion into his work, but also spends free time working with a variety of birds of prey. He is also an authorized dealer for Feather Friendly and installs bird window collision deterrent markers to prevent bird strikes as part of his business model, which focuses heavily on conserving native species.
Vern Bastable — Steering Committee Member
Vern (he/him) is the Director of GreenUP Ecology Park and Landscape Programs. Vern has been an integral part of GreenUP’s urban forest program and the operations of the tree nursery in GreenUP Ecology Park. He earned an Ecosystem Management Diploma from Fleming College and is an Ontario certified tree seed collector. Vern’s expertise is with urban forest management and municipal heritage tree designation.
Brittany Zeus — Social Media Coordinator
Brittany Zeus is a graduate of the Fish and Wildlife Technician program at Fleming College. Throughout her time at school, she focused her studies on habitat fragmentation and the impact this has on many of her favourite species.
Britt was born and raised in Peterborough, through education and conservation she hopes to share her love of the outdoors in the city that ignited her passion. She loves how accessible birding can be and wants to bring awareness of the wonders that our feathered friends bring to Ontario. In Britt’s spare time she loves to play Wingspan, hang out with her cats, and craft to her hearts content.
Melissa Beauchamp — Web Designer
Melissa Beauchamp is a recent graduate of the Graphic Design course at Fleming College, who currently works freelance. Throughout her schooling, she has focused on the aesthetics of her designs, while maintaining a more accessible experience for everyone. Having grown up in Peterborough, and with a family who’s always greatly respected nature and everything wonderful it has to offer, Mel is excited to help with the spread of awareness aid with conservation efforts in any way she can.
