Check out the highlights from a few of our over 45+ World Migratory Bird Day events across the country, which took place in May. We hope they inspire you to reflect on the many ways we can all contribute to saving bird lives and biodiversity. World Migratory Bird Day is about bringing together people from all different perspectives to celebrate and advocate for bird-friendly actions in their communities. This year’s theme was Water: Sustaining Bird Life.

Regina, Saskatchewan

The City of Regina is located on the traditional lands of the Treaty 4 Territory, a Treaty signed with 35 First Nations across Southern Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta and Manitoba, and the original lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and the homeland of the Métis.

Elder Sharon Agecoutay storytelling at Regina’s World Migratory Bird Day, May 2023. Photo courtesy of Nature Saskatchewan.

Birds are indicators of the health of the environment and preserving their populations is crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. By protecting birds, we are also protecting ourselves, our communities, and the planet. Bird Friendly Cities and World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) offer an opportunity for us to work towards creating safer urban environments for birds by focusing on three main aspects: reducing threats to birds, restoring habitat and natural spaces, and educating and mobilizing the public. In celebration of Regina, SK being designated a Bird Friendly City, this well attended exhibit entitled Bird Friendly was created by Nature Saskatchewan and held at the Regina Performing Arts Centre through February and March of 2023. The Canadian Wildlife Federation – WILD Outside program had a bird related program that included the Bird Friendly Art Show and art activities for the youth.

Bird Friendly Regina Committee members have met with the City of Regina Mayor and Parks and Open Spaces staff to discuss joint initiatives. One of these initiatives is signage in A.E. Wilson Park which will include the Bird Friendly Regina logo as well as a QR Code to an Introduction to Birds in A.E. Wilson Park document. The document has been formatted to be viewed using a cell phone for all in the community to learn more about bird conservation and citizen science monitoring initiatives.

Edmonton, Alberta

The City of Edmonton is located on the traditional lands of the Métis, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, Saulteaux, and the Cree people.

Stephanie Weizenback and Kethu Mendis in front of the Community Art installation, Nature Alberta Office, May 2023. Photo courtesy of Nature Alberta.

Nature Alberta is a strong voice and active champion of the greater appreciation and conservation of nature in the province. Nature Alberta is an active member of the Bird Friendly Edmonton team, assisting with applications and reports, and completing media interviews on the topics of certification and bird conservation, plus general public awareness.

For the celebration of birds, water conservation and education, Stephanie Weizenback and Kethu Mendis from Nature Alberta attended the Greater Edmonton Teachers Convention. They supplied 98 classrooms with free bird conservation textbooks, along with Cats and Birds info, and provided an estimated 3,500 students with access to free local resources to learn more about bird conservation in Alberta. Their table was swarmed with eager teachers as word got out about the free textbook, which was gone within the first two hours of the two-day event! Nature Alberta volunteers and staff did a stellar job of connecting all interested educators with free bird-friendly classroom resources.

The grand finale was the celebration on the day officially proclaimed “World Migratory Bird Day” by the City of Edmonton’s Mayor, Amarjeet Sohi. Teamed up with Big Lake Environment Support Society, celebrations were held at Edmonton’s nearest Important Bird & Biodiversity Area, Big Lake. Over 200 attendees learned about the importance of water for birds, and many were inspired to craft bird-protecting window decals to take home. Enthusiastic attendees completed the final piece of Nature Alberta’s community art project.

The art project is now installed in Nature Alberta’s office to inspire a community connected by a love of nature — people from all walks of life coming together to protect birds. You are welcome to pop by Nature Alberta’s office to visit and admire the piece. The positive energy beaming through the artwork, left by hundreds of happy artists participating in bird conservation awareness, will surely inspire you.

Guelph, Ontario

The City of Guelph is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation of the Anishinaabek Peoples.

Community members painting bird houses and colouring bird-themed colouring pages at the art table. Photo courtesy of Bird Safe Guelph.

On Saturday, May 13, Bird Safe Guelph hosted their second annual Guelph Bird Day at the University of Guelph Arboretum Centre. Held in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, Guelph Bird Day is a community event with a variety of family-friendly activities and educational displays from local environmental organizations. The goal of Bird Day is to raise awareness about bird conservation and the actions we can take to help our local birds — including planting native plants, providing nest boxes, and installing bird-friendly window treatments — and to get the Guelph community excited about birds!

One of the most popular activities was the guided bird walk around the Arboretum led by expert birders from Nature Guelph and the University of Guelph. Highlights included the Blackburnian Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, and Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. This year, we offered a paint-your-own Chickadee/Wren birdhouse craft, which participants could take home for free. These houses can provide nesting sites for birds including Guelph’s official City Bird, the Black-Capped Chickadee.

Other participating local organizations included Nature Guelph, Wild Ontario, OPIRG Guelph, the City of Guelph, and Wild Birds Unlimited Guelph, as well as groups from the University, including the Biodiversity Inventory, Sustainability Office, and Arboretum. Guelph Bird Day was supported by funding from Nature Canada, the University of Guelph Sustainability Office, and the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program.

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered and hosted Bird Day events this year.

Wild Ontario volunteer Sammi Luk presenting a Barred Owl. Photo courtesy of Wild Ontario and Bird Safe Guelph.

Special thanks to our Nature Network contributors: Shannon Chernick of Nature Saskatchewan & Bird Friendly Regina; Stephanie Weizenback, Program Director at Nature Alberta and member of Bird Friendly Edmonton; Kethu Mendis, Nature Kids Coordinator at Nature Alberta; and Sarah Mueller of Bird Safe Guelph as well as all Bird Friendly team members, partner organizations and volunteers across the country.

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Ce projet a été réalisé avec l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada agissant par l’entremise du ministère fédéral de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique.

Nature Canada thanks CLIF BAR® fueling our volunteers and participants at Bird Day events across the country this year.