Blog Contributors

Bird Canada made its first appearance on the blog scene in March 2009. The number of readers has more than doubled each year, proving that there really are a great number of people who want to read and learn about birds in Canada.

In 2013 we went multi-author, and the sky is now the limit! If you would like to join our group of Canadian bird bloggers, please drop us a line at birdcanada@gmail.com.

Our Authors

Bob Lefebvre was born and raised in northern Alberta, and came to Calgary in 1986.  Although he had long been interested in the natural world, he remained a backyard birder until 2008, when, inspired by the book Wild America, he began to go out on Nature Calgary field trips.  He now leads birding tours throughout the city, and particularly enjoys teaching his young nephews about the fascinating world of birds. Bob writes regularly for the Birds Calgary blog.

Charlotte Wasylik is a young birder who lives on a farm in northeastern Alberta. She was delighted to be selected for the Young Ornithologists’ Workshop at the Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario last summer, especially because she was able to meet other young birders. This spring, Charlotte is working with the Edmonton Nature Club’s Snow Goose Chase at Tofield, Alberta, to help establish the new Young Naturalists’ Corner. Charlotte’s blog is Prairie Birder, and you can also find her at the Facebook group she started last year, Alberta Birds, which welcomes all birders, bird lovers, and nature photographers.

Cindy Boucher is a naturalist and herbalist, with a soft spot for birds, bears and permaculture. When not behind her camera, trying to capture the latest subject, you’ll find her deep in research on a myriad of topics.   Her ongoing project is developing the “Avian Ritz” for insectivorous birds so they’ll consider her New Brunswick home a frequent, feathered friend destination.  Cindy can be found in the wilds of Cork, NB and be reached at info@eastcoastperma.ca.

Daniel Arndt was born and raised in and around Calgary, and has always had a passion for nature, and in a roundabout way, birds as well. After graduating in 2006 from the University of Calgary with a B.Sc. in Natural Science geared towards palaeontology, it became clear that the closest thing to dinosaur watching he’d be able to do would be by taking an interest in their descendants. It wasn’t until a couple of tropical vacations in 2008 that kick-started the drive to photograph and discover in detail the world of birds. Dan leads local birding field trips, and is passionate about his photography, birds, and all of the wonders of the natural world. Dan also writes for the Birds Calgary blog, and his excellent photos can be found on his Flickr page.

Dave Ingram is a naturalist and photographer based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. His passion for birds began after a season guiding zodiac boat tours in Haida Gwaii, BC. Since then he has volunteered with several bird research projects including Laskeek Bay Conservation Society’s ancient murrelet study at Limestone Island, and SFU’s remote Triangle Island research station. His interest in nature and birding led to over 10 years of seasonal work as a heritage interpreter with BC Parks, Parks Canada and a number of NGOs with a focus on environmental education, as well as travel throughout Central America. He now has a “real” job teaching in the Comox Valley. Dave’s blog can be found at Island Nature , follow him on Twitter at @BCNatureTweets

Greg Byron, orginally from Montreal, now resides in the South Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada’s only desert. He operates an Ecotourism business, Great Horned Owl Eco Tours,  and focuses on bird watching and nature adventure tours. In order to deliver unique and experiential tours Greg has become very driven to understand all of the plants and animals which reside in the Okanagan along with Natural History, geology and issues surrounding water sustainability and climate change. Another gem about the Okanagan that isn’t too well known is bird watching; with over 300 species the Okanagan is one of the premiere bird watching areas in all of Canada. As an avid birdwatcher, when guests go on his bird watching tour one of his goals is to find them a “Life Bird”. In Greg’s backyard can be found 10% of Canada’s endangered species including: Williamson’s Sapsuckers, Lark Sparrows, White-headed Woodpeckers, Yellow-breasted Chats and Western Screech Owls. Check out my photostream on Flickr

James Churchill, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. James’ birding gene kicked in while carrying out migration monitoring in the Shenandoah Mountains in 2001. Since then he has worked at several banding stations, investigated what ‘moves’ American Redstart males use to ‘pick up chicks’, conducted GPS surveys amidst the Sandhill Cranes of the Mackenzie Delta, dodged bullets while looking for Least Bittern at CFB Gagetown, measured the length of a Red-bellied Woodpecker tongue and listened to American Woodcock chitter in the Barrens winds at Nova Scotia’s highest peak (White Hill, Cape Breton Highlands). Currently, as a BWT (Birder With Toddlers), he flexes his ‘Stroller List’, creates bird feeder mics from expired baby monitors, and replies ‘GIS Analyst’ when asked about his profession. James is grateful for the opportunity to join the Bird Canada blog crew, and can be reached at jameslchurchill@gmail.com.

Julia Zarankin is a writer, editor, and lecturer to later life learners in Toronto. In her former life, which ended in 2008, she was a Russian literature and culture professor at the University of Missouri. Julia’s slow transformation into an amateur birder has involved learning the whereabouts of every sewage lagoon in the greater Toronto area. She is a regular blogger at Ontario Nature and maintains a blog about birds, words and essential matters at birdsandwords.wordpress.com.

Matthew Sim is a young nature photographer who has always taken in interest in birds, however, he has only become a serious birder in the last few years. Though birds may be his calling, he loves all aspects of nature and is always keen to learn more about the world around him. Matthew is a regular writer for the Birds Calgary blog, and maintains his own nature photography blog.

Pat Bumstead was born and raised in northern Alberta and has been a keen birder for more years than she cares to admit. She currently lives in Calgary, in a yard with way too many bird feeders. Talking and writing about birds and wildlife is second nature to her, so in 2009 she dipped her toe into the blogosphere and set up Bird Canada. Her life has not been the same since. She also contributes to the Birding Is Fun and Birds Calgary blogs, and is a Canadian co-ordinator for the Pledge to Fledge program of the Global Birding Initiative.

Pierre Cenerelli, originally from Montreal, now lives on Vancouver’s magnificent North Shore. After getting a PhD in history and working for the Quebec provincial government for a decade, he now advises UBC’s student leaders on matters relating to government and other community relations issues. In his spare time, one of his favourite hobbies is observing and photographing birds, something he has done for over three decades. His recent arrival out west has re-ignited his passion for birding and it will be his pleasure to share some of his observations with Bird Canada’s loyal readers. He is honoured to be sharing this space with other terrific birders. Pierre also maintains Not Only for the Birds?, a blog on birding and other matters.

Sharon McInnes was seduced by wild birds after she and her husband moved to Gabriola Island, a BC gulf island, in 2007. She writes a monthly newspaper column called Just for the Birds and in 2010 published a compilation of 29 of her columns and 40 colour photos in Up Close & Personal: Confessions of a Backyard Birder.  She is also the author of the Gabriola Bird Blog

Sherry L Lidstone was bitten by the birding bug in 1983 while living in Northern British Columbia. “My husband’s job involved a lot of travel and at times he could be away for a month or more at a time. I was a born and raised ‘city’ girl and not used to living on the edge of the wilderness. With no neighbours for miles & surrounded on all sides by nothing but forest, it was a little frightening and very lonely. A range of fascinating critters visited our yard but it was the Gray Jay that held my attention the most. It would fly in daily, sit in the Fir tree in the front yard for a few moments then fly off. I wanted to see more so I headed off and bought my first feeder and bag of sunflower seeds. Well lo and behold, in no time flat the jay was back and brought 4 friends! I was ecstatic and thrilled beyond belief when after a little time and patience they trusted me enough to come eat out of my hand. I was hooked from that moment on!” “A few years later the landowner across the road, a fellow from Texas, decided it was time to log off his piece of Canadian paradise. My first thoughts went to the family of Gray Jays that lived in those dense woods and I vowed to protect them no matter what it took. I had found out the owner’s name through the logging company that had been hired and immediately fired off a letter of protest to the Texan. A few weeks later he flew up from the U.S. to see what the fuss was all about first hand. I walked him through his property, something he had never done and introduced him to ‘my’ jays. I held out my food filled hand and a jay came in immediately. The Texan was impressed and in the end agreed not to log while they were nesting and to leave a very wide buffer around the jay’s home. It was a small accomplishment on my part but saving the habitat my ‘spark’ bird made my new found birding spirit soar!”
Sherry, an artist and part time writer, lives in a small town along the North Thompson River. Her artwork almost always revolves around birds. She regularly wrote a weekly column for Black Press called “The Feather Factor”, which is also the name of her blog. She has contributed research to “Wildlife Afield” regarding bill deformities and a very special Northern Flicker she documented for two years. Sherry is also the owner/moderator of the Facebook group British Columbia Birds

Susan Ellis lives in the Ottawa Valley, Pembroke, Ontario. With a background in fine art, education, and economic development, my work in municipal government is creative and all about building a better community in which to live –engaging others in conversations about sustainability, conservation, preservation, and smart growth. On my own time, I am an avid birder and it is this all engaging activity that has given me a deep love of, and enduring appreciation for, nature. I also read voraciously, cook with care, love to garden, and travel whenever I can. Originally born on the prairies, I’ve now spent most of my life in Ontario, where I live on the shores of the beautiful Ottawa River enjoying the spectacular sunrises each morning. Twitter: SusanREllis, Feather Brained Blog 

Tim Hopwood is a passionate nature photographer with a soft spot for birds. Born & raised in Australia, he & his young family now call Calgary home. An accountant by day, Tim looks forward to the weekends, and especially family camping trips in the summer, when he gets to hit the outdoors, spend time with his family and also indulge in his hobby. He shares his photography on his Tim Hopwood Images blog.