Celebrating 100 years of international bird conservation

Taking birds under our wings for 100 years: a centennial photo album

100 bird enthusiasts express their love for birds in 100 words. Biologists from the Canadian Wildlife Service, partners, volunteers and members of the public offer us unique stories. Some are funny, others touching, poetic or downright epic. This centennial photo album is beautifully illustrated with photos of birds and the people who love them.

Benefits of migratory birds

  • Connect people with nature and add beauty, sound and colour to our world; they provide countless opportunities for enjoyment by birders, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts and have cultural and spiritual importance
  • Contribute environmental benefits, including pollination, insect and rodent control, and seed dispersal
  • Good indicators of environmental health because they are so visible and relatively easy to study. Studying birds can give us a picture of what is going on in the world

Art exhibit "In fine feather"

Drawing inspiration from birds, 14 students from the Department of Fine Arts at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick have created art works on the theme of migratory bird conservation. Through their youthful eyes, we contemplate the successes and challenges of the past and glimpse a way forward for the next century of conservation.

Melissa Brunet “2 Homes”
Acrylic and oil on canvas

Listen to the CBC interviews with the artists

Artists Isabel Francolini, Savannah Harris, Adrian Kiva and Kevin Melanson, and biologist Garry Donaldson of the Canadian Wildlife Service

Artist Adrian Kiva and Thaddeus Holownia, Head of the Department of Fine Arts at Mount Allison University

Discover the birds described in the works of art

Taking birds under your wing

A hundred years ago, Canada and the United States signed a treaty to protect birds: the Migratory Birds Convention. A century later, it’s your turn to sign your “personal treaty” for the protection of birds where you are. Download your pledge certificate.

Eight ways to take birds under your wing

1. Keep an eye on your pets outdoors

Research by Environment and Climate Change Canada suggest that 270 million birds die each year because of human activities. About 75% of these losses are attributable to domestic and feral cats. Take action: do not let your cat run free outside.

2. Make your windows bird safe

Windows can mislead birds: they see trees and sky reflected and try to fly through. Thousands of birds die this way each year. Make sure that all your windows are visible to birds. Put up visual markers that warn them away from the glass.

3. Avoid using pesticides and chemical fertilizers

Pesticides and chemical fertilizers can be harmful to birds, yourselves, your families and your pets. Avoid using them as much as possible.

4. Help reduce climate change

Go green: walk, bike, car pool or use public transit. Be energy-efficient: opt for compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs. Wash your clothes in cold or lukewarm water. Install programmable thermostats. Look for the Energy Star® label when buying new appliances. Cut back on waste.

5. Report the birds you spot and participate in citizen science programs

Make your bird observations count for science. Report the birds you spot and volunteer for citizen science programs. From entry-level beginner- and family-friendly programs to activities suited to more advanced birders - there’s something for everyone!

Photo: © ThinkstockPhotos.ca

6. Make your yard a haven for birds

Backyards and outdoor neighbourhood spaces (including around schools, community buildings, businesses and abandoned property) can provide much-needed bird and wildlife habitat, supplying needed water, food and shelter. Launching naturalizing projects at home or in the community can be a fun way to spend time outdoors connecting with nature, family, friends and neighbours.

Photo: © ThinkstockPhotos.ca

7. Use products from sustainable farming, fishing and forestry

Help protect bird habitat. Check products for certified sustainable labelling, such as Ecocert Canada, Marine Stewardship Council, Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative or Canadian Standards Association.

8. Get involved or donate to a nature conservation group

Give your time as a volunteer to a conservation group engaged in bird protection, habitat restoration or public education, make a charitable donation to an organization of this kind or buy a Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp.

A vision for the next century

Join us in building a vision for bird conservation for the next century

Answering the challenge of bird conservation

A century ago, North American bird populations had declined dramatically in the absence of regulations and other efforts to protect them. Recognizing the importance of migratory birds to humans and the environment, in 1916 government leaders in Canada and the United States signed a treaty committing to conserve these valuable resources that cross our borders.  This groundbreaking treaty was followed 20 years later by a similar agreement between Mexico and the United States. The result of these international agreements has been a century of cooperative conservation of our shared migratory birds and their habitats.

“The migratory birds that link our nations are among our hemisphere’s greatest treasures.”

However, despite the treaties’ successes, birds still need our help. The State of North America’s Birds 2016 report tells us that while some groups of birds are thriving, others - especially long-distance international migrants - are in urgent need of conservation action.

Recognizing that continued international collaboration is vital to conserve migratory bird populations, our three nations have come together to start to build a vision for sustaining bird populations for the future.

Why birds and bird conservation matter

Successful bird conservation efforts recognize that the health of birds - and their habitats - is vital not just to sustaining their populations, but also to building and nourishing thriving human communities, economies and cultures, connecting people with nature, and providing valuable ecological services and benefiting many other wildlife species. Conservation unites people across broad geographies and a variety of cultures. We build our bird conservation vision on three key premises.

Conservation works
  • Where partners come together for conservation, birds and their habitats are thriving
International cooperation brings success
  • Governments and citizens are already working together to develop approaches to the conservation challenges of the future, such as ensuring resilient landscapes and adapting to changing conditions
Everyone wins with bird conservation
  • Bird conservation leads to healthy environments and ecosystems that benefit human health and human communities

Our vision for the next 100 years of bird conservation

Painting of bird

Isabel Francolini. Red Knot, Common Nighthawk, Canada Warbler. Graphite with white and black ink on Fabriano. 2016. Part of the “In Fine Feather” art expo by students from the Department of Fine Arts at Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada.

Building on the input received from Canadians, the three countries have developed are now drafting a vision statement to guide our next century of conservation.

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