The City of Ottawa has officially been certified as a Bird Friendly City, a designation that highlights the community's commitment to protecting avian species and their habitats. The certification, awarded by Nature Canada, comes after years of dedicated advocacy and stewardship by local organizations such as Bird Friendly Ottawa and the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club.
A Collaborative Achievement
Emilia Michaud, chair of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club birding committee, expressed her excitement upon hearing the news. "It's been a really big effort," she said. "The most important part is getting the city to accept and support this initiative. It gets the word out, it makes people interested."
The Bird Friendly City program, launched by Nature Canada in 2019, aims to address declining bird populations by encouraging municipalities to reduce key threats, protect habitats, and educate residents. Ottawa joins a list of 41 certified municipalities across the country.
Community Engagement and Events
To maintain certification, cities must host bird-friendly events. On May 2, Michaud co-led a Jane's Walk focused on bird safety, starting at the University of Ottawa's bird-friendly health sciences building. "All of its windows have markings on them to stop or reduce the number of birds that collide with that building," she explained. The walk aimed to showcase how buildings can be modified to reduce bird collisions and to promote birding in the area.
Deborah Doherty, co-chair of Bird Friendly Ottawa, also participated in leading the walk. The event was part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the threats birds face, such as window collisions, habitat loss, and predation by domestic cats.
Biodiversity in the Capital
Ottawa is home to approximately two million birds, including species like spotted sandpipers, palm warblers, and wood ducks. The certification acknowledges the city's role in preserving this biodiversity. "Awareness makes everybody much more keen on doing something about it," Michaud noted. "Most people weren't even aware that there was a threat to birds before we had this certification in place."
Looking Forward
With the certification in place, local advocates hope to continue building momentum. The Bird Friendly Ottawa coalition plans to expand its outreach, encourage more bird-safe building designs, and foster community involvement. "It's something we can be proud of," Michaud said. "There's a lot of bad things happening in the world."
The certification not only benefits birds but also enhances the quality of life for residents by promoting green spaces and environmental stewardship. As Ottawa joins the ranks of bird-friendly cities, it sets an example for other municipalities to follow.
