Newsroom

Nature Canada Urges Canadians to Help Birds on International Migratory Bird Day

May 4, 2012 (Ottawa) – Nature Canada is calling on Canadians to welcome back the birds to our shared home on International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). This year, we are providing twelve tips for Canadians to make Canada safer for birds.

Every fall, billions of birds migrate from Canada’s forests, wetlands and waterways to wintering grounds thousands of miles south. The following spring, they return to breed and raise their young. Most Canadians celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on the second Saturday in May through bird festivals, bird walks and other activities.

“Over 80 per cent of Canada’s birds – literally billions – migrate out of Canada each fall to reach their wintering grounds,” said Ted Cheskey, bird conservation manager for Nature Canada. “Up to sixty per cent perish during their migrations back to Canada. Those that return are survivors that keep their species alive!”

By making windows visible to birds, slowing down while driving, and protecting birds from pets, we can help birds survive the last leg of their journey. Below is a list of twelve tips to help birds.

1. Prevent window collisions
2. Protect birds from pets
3. Create a healthy yard for birds
4. Leave fledglings where you find them
5. Learn and respect Canada’s bird laws
6. Make your city bird-friendly
7. Slow down while driving
8. Buy bird-friendly products
9. Help get kids into nature
10. Be a citizen scientist
11. Reduce energy use
12. Support groups that protect birds

Millions of Canadians watch and feed birds from their yards, and even casual bird watchers can be champions for birds by protecting them through these every-day actions. For more information on all twelve tips to help birds, please visit www.naturecanada.ca/imbd.asp.

“The return of Canada’s migratory birds not only brings us joy through their songs, their beauty and their spectacular feats of migration, but also deserve our utmost respect for what they do for us – countless ecological services such as consuming trillions of defoliating insects that would otherwise strip our forests bare,” said Cheskey.

Nature Canada is distributing educational bookmarks and posters with the twelve tips to local nature clubs to help them celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. If you would like more information on IMBD or would like to contact regional or local groups in your area who are celebrating IMBD, please contact:

Ted Cheskey
Bird conservation manager, Nature Canada
tcheskey@naturecanada.ca
613-562-3447 ext. 227

Monica Tanaka
Communications coordinator, Nature Canada
mtanaka@naturecanada.ca
613-562-3447 ext. 241

About International Migratory Bird Day
International Migratory Bird Day is a project of Environment for the Americas (EFTA), and was created by Partners in Flight (PIF) to focus attention on the need for action to conserve birds and their habitats. Over the past two decades, IMBD celebrations have educated people on threats to migratory birds and instilled an appreciation for birds and bird habitat.

About Nature Canada
Nature Canada is a member-based non-profit nature conservation organization dedicated to conserving and protecting wildlife and habitats in Canada by engaging people and advocating on behalf of nature. With strategies based on sound science and passion for nature, Nature Canada effects change on issues of national significance.

As a Canadian co-partner of BirdLife International’s Important Bird Areas program with Bird Studies Canada, Nature Canada protects and conserves local and migratory birds at Important Bird Areas across Canada. With major support from TransCanada Corporation, Wildlife Habitat Canada and the Government of Canada, the Important Bird Areas program protects keys sites that are vitally important for migrating, staging, breeding and wintering birds.

-30-