This report is one that every birder should read. What is going on here in Alberta right now affects us all, in more ways than one. The amount of habitat destruction, both current and proposed, is immense. Strip-mining for the oilsands is expected to remove terrestrial and aquatic habitat (habitat …
The 2011 Great Backyard Bird Count was a huge success; nearly 92,000 checklists were submitted in North America. Canadians submitted a record 7462 checklists and counted 647,402 individuals of 243 species. These numbers are well above those from 2010, when 6653 checklists totalled 228 species. In Canada, the most widespread …
Plastic pollution in marine environments and its impact on marine life is an increasing concern. The issue was the focus of 15 presentations and a workshop at last year’s World Seabird Conference, summaries and abstracts from which are available on the Seabirds website, an important resource for anyone with an …
The Vancouver Avian Research Centre has just posted spring 2011 dates for their Bird Monitoring, Banding and Bird Identification Workshop. The workshop is a 3 day action-packed introductory course consisting of presentations, specimen study, field mist-netting, banding, and processing. It has been developed for people with little or no bird banding …
During February 18 to 21, take part in a family-friendly, educational activity that is loads of fun, supports bird conservation, and is free! Each year tens of thousands of Canadians and Americans take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) counting birds wherever they happen to be – in …
Every winter, more than 15,000 birdwatchers throughout North America volunteer for Project FeederWatch, a joint program of Bird Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Participating in this annual survey of birds that visit backyard feeders is easy and fun! At regular intervals from November to April, ‘FeederWatchers’ count …
A scientist from the University of Alberta says unrestrained gas development in southern Alberta could wipe out the sage grouse population in the province within two years. Mark Boyce has studied sage grouse since 1977, but he might be lacking a study subject soon – an estimated 90 birds remain …
Oct 21, 2010 News Release from the Alberta Wilderness Association In a shocking insult to all Albertans, the provincial government is set to sell off a huge swathe of public land – our land – to a private company, to grow potatoes. Despite the fact that the 16,000-acre parcel of …
As fall approaches, ducks, loons, grebes, and other waterbirds begin to return to British Columbia’s coastal areas to spend the winter months. The 12th season of the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey from Bird Studies Canada (BSC) will soon be underway. This program is one of the only long-term coastal monitoring …
Hemispheric Conservation Plan for Bicknell’s Thrush The International Bicknell’s Thrush Conservation Group (IBTCG) has unveiled a plan to protect one of North America’s most rare and vulnerable songbirds, the Bicknell’s Thrush, across its entire range from Canada to the Caribbean. A Conservation Action Plan for Bicknell’s Thrush proposes to increase …