My Reflections on the Release of the "Birds at Risk" Report

For over a year, I have worked with colleagues with National Resources Defence Council and Boreal Songbird Initiative on writing the Birds at Risk: The Importance of Canada’s Boreal Wetlands and Waterways.

It is good to see it out in the public forum. Though I’ve lived most of the my life in southern Canada, I have spent considerable time in the boreal region, first as a Park Naturalist on Lake Superior, and afterwards as an atlasser for the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Ontario – both in the early 1980s, and between 2001 and 2005, with the Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas in 1987, and a range of other trips both related to work and pleasure.

I’ve learned that canoeing is the only viable means of getting around in the summer, that in the Hudson Bay lowlands, even with gloves, long sleeves and a bug net over my head, 64 black flies can bite me under my watch band in one day, that there can still be ice along some of the rivers in late June, and most importantly that the vast forests and river systems are not uninhabited, but rather part of the homelands of First Nations peoples. The bugs, the rapids and the sudden changes in temperature do not scare me . . . but the red tinted water escaping from the mine tailings empoundment, the sickly smell of herbicides from aerial spraying and the distant din of machines do.

I am one of those auditory birders – though I enjoy seeing birds, I love hearing them and find great satisfaction in knowing their voices. The sound scape of the boreal wetlands is unequal for drama and beauty. The Common Loon’s song is at the top of the most emotive and haunting sounds on earth. Add to this the melodic flute-like refrains of Hermit Thrushes, a cheery chorus of White-throated Sparrow, the staccato explosiveness of a Connecticut Warbler’s song, and the emphatic “Whip-three-beers” of the threatened Olive-sided Flycatcher, and you have, in my view, the perfect symphony.

Sadly, members of the orchestra are dropping out as pressures to exploit the rich resources of the boreal accelerate destruction and change, and climate change tightens its grip on these northern biomes.

As manager of bird conservation programs for Nature Canada, I know that part of our mission is to be a voice for nature, including the species that are being silenced. We hope that the messages from this report will be discussed, debated and inform decisions related to this precious biome. This is our chance as a country to make a difference for our children, and their children with our largest ecological contribution to the earth’s health, our boreal forest.

The Big Year: Birders and Non-Birders Give Their Two Cents

It’s the movie the birding community had hotly anticipated all year.

Now, a few weeks after opening night, The Big Year is garnering praise from some groups and light disapproval from others. 

Starring Hollywood’s three funny men, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black, it’s about three guys vying to spot the most birds in one 12-month period.

Their quest takes them across North America, testing their bird spotting prowess while rocking the boat with their loved ones.

Based on the novel by Mark Obmascik, The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession, the movie is filmed in British Columbia and directed by David Frankel, with many Canadian bird experts serving as advisors on the film. We have collected an assortment of reviews from bird blogs, to the mainstream media, to bird enthusiasts at Nature Canada to give you a snap shot of what is being said about this comedy of birds and men.

Starting with those who gave the movie two thumbs up:

“I went to opening night in Penticton, a town in the south Okanagan of British Columbia, with about 45 other birders.  Many of us wore our binoculars and used them in the movie.  This added much to the ambiance.  I enjoyed the movie.  It was fun, the acting was pretty good, and birders were portrayed as real people.  Many of the scenes were filmed in the Okanagan and Vancouver area – knowing this added to my enjoyment.  Though not a great movie, I doubt anyone was expecting that, it was a good movie that is definitely worth a night out at the local theatre.”

-    Ted Cheskey, Nature Canada bird conservation manager

"This film offered up life lessons learned through birding, using characters that were authentic and diverse, not the stereotypes I feared I’d see on screen: Young, old, rich, not-so-rich, men and women brought together by a shared interest. As much about male bonding as it is about birding, the film left me smiling."

-    Chris Sutton, Nature Canada director of communications

“…bird watching isn’t often treated kindly (or accurately) in movies, and mistakes are so common that sometimes it seems like Hollywood actually tries to get the facts wrong. So it was with pleasure, surprise, and great admiration for the director and stars that I came away from the movie satisfied, intrigued, amused, and even touched by what I’d seen.”
-    Round Robin, The Cornell Blog of Ornithology

In this Youtube clip, BC birding authority Dick Cannings of Bird Studies Canada shares his first impressions of the movie after seeing it with 35 members of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network in a small theatre in Penticton BC. Cannings was an advisor to some of the scenes in the Okanagan, and one of his books appeared in the film.

“We were all in agreement—it gets two thumbs up! The movie is pretty upfront with their intentions from the very first screen: The Big Year is based on a true story…just the facts have been changed… in its simplest form, it was also a great story that made us admire birds, embrace nature and appreciate the little things in life. It also made all of us proud to be associated with such a great group of people—birders.”

-    By the Editors of Birds &Blooms

For many of us, Nature works like a bank;  it's where we go to get 'that special feeling' when we have the time.  For birders, however, Nature works a little differently. Yes, The Big Year is a bird movie about birders birding - but it's also a thoroughly entertaining portrayal of our manic, tragic, funny and obsessive relationship with the Nature.  Go see it!

- Peter Cummings, Clearance & Production Resources for The Big Year & Director of BC Ecological Agricultural Trust Society


And from Twitter, these tweets caught my attention

@AKbirder Got2 see #TheBigYear :) What a sweet movie. I giggled 2think of past group-birdathons & feverish excitement 2sight the most birds

- deephil11 12:21am via Twitter for iPhone 

The Big Year was a great little movie, really fun to watch and terrific scenery and music. #TheBigYear

- coopiemom Oct 24, 7:39pm via Twitter for iPad

And from the Nature Canada Facebook page:

“I really liked it and think it will be great publicity for birding...especially to see the passion people can have for it. I imagine people were expecting mayhem with the 3 stars and they were funny without being over the top.”

-    Helene Van Doninck

Lastly, there were a few who thought the movie was neither funny, nor accurate:

“The Big Year was alright.  It was neither horrible nor outstanding, neither fully factual nor completely made-up, neither completely engaging nor totally alienating.  I would give it a solid “B-” as a birder…What didn’t I like?  I didn’t like all the things the movie got wrong. Who can focus entirely on a movie and suspend their disbelief when what they are watching is riddled with errors?  Sure, some are done in an attempt to get laughs or for plot purposes but the movie would have been much better if it were more accurate.”

-    By Corey on 10,000 Birds

"As a non-birder, my initial interest in this film came from the promise of comedic relief from some of the greats. I also thought that I maybe able to educate myself in the world of bird watching, at least understand a little better the allure for so many.  While I did learn (about a bird size amount) about the wild world of birding and a few new bird names, I left feeling cheated on both the comedic humor side and the informative side of the film. However, if I were to take one message away from this film, it would be that the world of competitive birding is not for the weak hearted nor is it a laughing matter. This is serious business and I would not want to get in their way. In all I would have to say that if you are a real life birder – you may spend most of your time pointing out the inaccuracies of this film, if you are a fan of the many talented actors in the film, this night not be one to add to your own ‘Big Year’ of funny films.

- Cheri Dawn, development officer, corporate and foundation gifts

“[the Big Year] is more interested in warm and fuzzy life lessons than exploiting the slapstick opportunities inherent in chasing small creatures through inhospitable terrains. The result is an offence-free, mild entertainment in which everyone from cast to scriptwriter seems to be winging it.”

-    Liam Lacey, the Globe and Mail

What did you think of the Big Year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Great Winged Migrations

They’re titans in long-distance travel, migrants that make the biannual journey to wintering sites in warmer, more forgiving climates. Some journey exceptional distances at towering altitudes comparable to commercial airplane travel. Along the way they face obstacles, distractions and temptations. But an over-riding instinct keeps them on-course and focused on a greater purpose: survival and reproduction.

To honour their awe-inspiring journeys, we have profiled 5 winged migrants whose migrations give new meaning to long-distance travel.

Arctic Tern

No animal on earth travels farther every year. The Arctic Tern’s round trip migration from the Arctic to the Antarctic clocks in at an astounding 70,800 kilometers!

Weighing in at just over 100 grams, this small, slender seabird can live for up to thirty years. Over a lifetime it can accumulate up to 2.4 million kilometers in total distance travelled, which includes migrations and flight within its seasonal range at each pole.

Until recently, the Arctic tern’s migratory routes had not been mapped in great detail. With the help of smaller, lighter tracking devices, the mystery of its journey has been revealed.

It is believed there are about one million Arctic terns in the world, but data is scarce so populations are difficult to determine, and there are no estimates for most of its’ breeding grounds. It is known that southernmost populations are declining and are listed as “of special concern.”

Monarch Butterfly

Every autumn, thousands of Monarch Butterflies in Ontario fly through Point Pelee on their way south to Mexico. If temperatures are unforgiving, they will often roost in trees, biding their time until the mercury begins to rise. Their first great hurdle on a 3,000km journey, is crossing Lake Erie. Once they reach the mountains of central Mexico, they congregate by the millions in a forest of fir trees.

A smaller population of Monarchs lives in central British Columbia, migrating to southern California to reach their wintering sites. Both populations of Monarchs need plenty of fuel before embarking on their journeys south. You can help ensure Monarchs have the food they need throughout their lifespan by planting a monarch butterfly garden. Bring these black and orange jewels to your yard by following our tips to get your garden started!

While not at immediate risk of extinction, monarch populations are continue to be monitored for signs of trouble. Under Canada’s Species at Risk Act the Monarch is listed as a species of “Special Concern”.

Sandhill Crane

The world’s most common crane has three migratory subspecies: Lesser, Greater and Canadian. These populations breed in parts of the northern United States and Canada and spend their winters in Mexico and southern parts of the United States. En route, large numbers of Sandhill Cranes stop to refuel in the corn fields of Platte River, Nebraska. Some estimates put the seasonal Platte River population of Sandhill Cranes at nearly 500,000 birds!

Hoary Bat

Photo: J.N. Stuart via Flickr

The largest of 19 bat species in Canada, the Hoary bat weighs 30 grams and has a wing span of 40 cm. Found widely throughout the United States and Canada, the Hoary Bat is also one of very few bat species that migrate.

In the fall, Hoary Bat populations migrate south to southern coastal parts of the United States, including the West Coast south of San Francisco south, the East Coast from South Carolina to central Florida, and throughout the Gulf States. When they do reach their final destination, they are highly territorial when hunting, returning each night to the same meadow or river to hunt large insects like moths and beetles.

Photo: nebarnix via Flickr

Swainson’s Hawk

One of the world’s longest-distance migratory hawks, the Swainson’s Hawk makes a 20,000km return trip every year from western North America to the pampas in South America. With the help of northerly winds and thermal currents flocks, called ‘kettles’, funnel through Panama on their way south. This important piece of land bridging North and South America, will see thousands of Swainson’s Hawks during the spring and fall migrations.

Before it sets off, Swainson’s Hawks will gorge on grasshoppers, since for most of its migration it will not stop to feed or rest, making it critical for it to put on extra weight to prepare for the long journey south.

Have flocks of migrating birds, bats or butterflies passed through your area? Share your stories of migration with us in the comments below!

Death Threat Received by Opponent of Bedford Biofuels Tana Delta Project

We have been reporting on developments in the Kenyan Tana Delta related to a proposed Jatropha plantation by the Canadian company Bedford Biofuels. We stand with our BirdLife partner Nature Kenya in their concerns about the environmental and social impacts of this project. Over a month ago, we wrote to the Canadian government about our concerns, but we have not heard back.

Now, we are even more concerned to hear alarming news that opposition to the project is being met with violence in the form of a death threat, currently under investigation by the Kenyan police. From BirdLife International:

Mr. Hajj Idris Bakero, a religious leader in Garsen Division, received death threats, presumably for his opposition to a jatropha project in the area.

On September 9th 2011, his wife Hamida Kori found a black plastic bag at the main gate to her compound, in it was petrol in a small plastic bag, four rounds of ammunition for an M16 Gun, and a warning note.


Translated, the note warned the cleric not to continue “barking “about the project or else “these four bullets will get into your body, we will burn your wife and children with petrol so that your name disappears forever.” This threat has now been reported to the Kenyan Police.

Find out more here. And stay tuned.

Discover, Connect & Share from Sea to Sea to Sea

 We've entered an idea in the Aviva Community Fund challenge! But we need your help to make this vision a reality. The next round of voting starts on Monday, October 24 and every vote brings us one step closer to empowering young nature leaders across the country. Sign up now to be ready to vote or read on to learn more about our idea.

The Project

"It was in the Arctic that I started to realize the significance of a sustainable lifestyle."
– Donovan Taplin (17 years old)Bell Island, Newfoundland

Photo by Lee Narraway/Students on Ice

City traffic, air and noise pollution, cell phones, shopping malls and a daily deluge of e-mail are a reality for most Canadians. We spend our days indoors, sitting under fluorescent lights and breathing re-circulated air.

Our children play video games; they don't play outside. They know how to navigate the internet, but don't know what birds live in their backyards. They learn about big issues like climate change, but don't have the connection with nature that will let them truly understand the problem.

We are isolated from nature. We are isolated from each other.

Nature Canada and Students on Ice want to provide a life-changing opportunity for Canadian youth from sea to sea to sea. We will help them discover nature first-hand on the Arctic Expedition 2012, connect with peers and mentors in community dialogue, and share their experiences with other young people at a national Youth Leadership Summit. We hope that each person who is touched by the SEA to SEA to SEA experience is inspired to lead positive change in their own individual communities.

The Partners

For more than 70 years Nature Canada, a membership-based not-for-profit conservation organization, has been a leader in connecting Canadians to nature.

We have worked with hundreds of local groups in every province and territory to deliver community-based projects including the Parks & People program, allowing youth to experience nature first-hand; the Community Action Fund, enabling on-the-ground conservation activities; the Important Bird Areas Caretaker Network, engaging stewards for habitat and species protection; and Nature Explorers, an integrated program that will see one million children and their families participating in multiple experiences in nature over the next five years. 

Students on Ice is an award-winning program that provides youth from across Canada and around the world with ship-based education expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.

The Students on Ice mandate is to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders and responsible global citizens, and in doing so help provide them with a greater understanding and respect for the planet.

The Plan

Nature Canada and Students on Ice are seeking $150,000 of support from the Aviva Community Fund to assist with on-the-ground delivery of the 2012 SEA to SEA to SEA experience that will empower Canadian youth through a transformative journey.

Photo by Lee Narraway/Students on Ice

In August 2012, 75 students from around the world will participate in the Students on Ice Arctic Expedition 2012. Through a nationwide selection process, a young Canadian from every province and territory will be chosen to participate on the expedition thanks to this support from AVIVA. These funds will facilitate this journey of discovery and the development of young nature ambassadors.

Highlights of the expedition will include a welcome event hosted by the community of Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, and a visit with community leaders and Inuit elders in Pagnirtung to learn about their observations of climate change and its impacts on their community and way of life. The team will stop at National Parks, Important Bird Areas, and spectacular fjords along the way to immerse themselves in learning directly in the spectacular landscape. Participants will have a chance to see magnificent Arctic wildlife, including seabirds, whales, and polar bears.

Throughout the expedition, students will have a chance to learn from each other and connect with mentors. Ongoing discussions will let them reflect on their experiences and energize them to become leaders for environmental and social change in their own individual communities when they return home.

In November 2012, 130 youth from across Canada will converge at a Youth Leadership Summit to explore what the Arctic means to Canada, how our country is connected from SEA to SEA to SEA, and why healthy sustainable communities are critical for our future, the Arctic's future and the planet's future.

The AVIVA Nature Ambassadors from the expedition will serve as youth leaders, motivating their peers as they share their recent Arctic journey, experiences and new knowledge.

The Youth Leadership Summit will empower participants as young leaders, changing their lives and communities. They will make lasting connections that will link Canadian communities from sea to sea to sea in a sustainable future.

"I am taking on the world as an ambassador of positive change."
– Victoria Wee (17 years old)Coquitlam, British Columbia

Please vote to empower change, from sea to sea to sea.

Connect with Nature: Take a Fall Hike

This is a great time to take a hike in nature. The summer crowds are gone, the scenery is stunning and there are still a few weeks before you have to break out your winter jacket. Here are a few ways to make the most of your trek through the freshly fallen leaves.

1) Bird watching: There is lots of bird watching to be done as our feathered friends head south for the winter. Before you head out on your hike, visit allaboutbirds.org to read up on bird watching techniques. Pack a nature guide to help identify different species and take a journal to record your findings.

2) Join a guided nature walk: Many communities across Canada have clubs that engage local experts to lead public hikes. This is a great way to meet fellow nature lovers and learn more about the natural geography of your area. Keep an eye on local publications or perform a quick internet search to find a guided hike in your area.

3) Bring your camera: There are few times of the year when nature is more beautiful than it is now. Pack your camera and capture some of the beautiful fall scenery you encounter along the way. While you’re at it, why not take a photo for our Hug-a-Tree photo contest or Flickr pool? Your photos are sure to bring back happy memories during the long winter.

4) Take a snack (or two): Before you head out, prepare some nutritious snacks that will keep you fueled along the way. Cheese and crackers, apple slices and trail mix are a few easy-to-pack snacks that offer valuable nutrients for your hike. For a more seasonal treat, save the seeds from the inside of your pumpkin and roast them the night before you head out.

5) Do a leaf rubbing: Want to create a souvenir of your adventure? Bring a large hardbound book and a roll of wax or parchment paper. Collect a few leaves of different shapes and sizes, press them between two sheets of paper and tuck them in the book to keep them safe. When you get home, place the leaves between two pieces of white paper, rub with a crayon and you’re done!

As always, don’t forget to dress appropriately, stay on trail and share your itinerary with a family member or friend before heading out. Happy trails!

Photo by Macomb Paynes

Important Bird Areas: "Wild Places, Full of Life"

Keith Riding is a retired surgeon who volunteers his time to monitor birds and habitats in remote coastal Important Bird Areas off Vancouver Island. In this short video, Keith joins our bird conservation manager Ted Cheskey on an overcast, windy day at the Boundary Bay Important Bird Area, where he talked about being a Caretaker in these "wild places, so full of life."



Community stewardship of local bird habitat is essential for the health of the Important Bird Area system - and for the birds. These natural spaces are vitally important for breeding, migrating, staging and wintering birds, and the conservation of these sites is a cornerstone of effective bird conservation.

Keith is part of something called the Canadian Important Bird Areas Caretaker Network. It's a nationwide initiative involving volunteers who watch over and protect these special places. BC Nature, with financial assistance from Nature Canada's Communities in Action Fund, launched the first Caretaker Network in Canada. Then in 2009, TransCanada Corporation committed $1 million over five years as a national sponsor of the network, so that today, volunteer Caretakers are in all ten provinces. Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada co-deliver the program nationally.

Thanks Keith for being a volunteer Caretaker for not one, but four IBAs!

Sable Island is Canada's Newest National Park

Endangered Roseate Terns nest and migrate through Sable Island.

We're celebrating today's announcement of a new national park reserve on Sable Island!

Sable Island is a windswept, crescent-shaped island about about 300 kilometres southeast of Nova Scotia and its sensitive coastal landscape is a haven for migrating and nesting birds.

A national park designation signals vastly improved protection of Sable Island's fragile ecosystems and presents a renewed mandate for research and monitoring at the site. It also fulfills a January 2010 federal-provincial promise to increase protection of this remote island.

Sable Island is a globally important bird habitat that is home to the at-risk Ipswich Sparrow, the endangered Roseate Tern and many other bird species during the breeding season and the spring and fall migrations. The island is recognized as a globally and nationally significant Important Bird Area (IBA) through BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas Program, under which Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada are co-partners responsible for overseeing IBAs in Canada.

A national park here will provide the type of permanent habitat protection we hope to see for all of Canada's IBAs. However, visitor numbers will need to be strictly limited inside Sable Island National Park to maintain the Island's sensitive sand dune systems. Recreation, tourism and declining habitat quality have been identified as key concerns for the island through our Important Bird Areas program

In recommendations submitted to Parks Canada in 2010, we advised that the national park predominantly be zoned a "wilderness area" with visitor numbers strictly controlled over time. Visitor limits will ultimately be established in the park’s management plan, which has yet to be finalized.

We were also pleased by the announcement that Nova Scotia and Ottawa will table legislation to prohibit oil and gas drilling from the surface of Sable Island and out to one nautical mile from shore. Nature Canada had also recommended that Parks Canada prevent development of any subsurface resources, like oil and gas, on Sable Island, as it typically does in National Parks and National Marine Conservation Areas.


The legislated prohibition on oil and gas development on the island's surface and immediately offshore is a very positive move. It’s also encouraging to note that the government plans to work with industry to amend significant discovery licenses to strengthen prohibitions on drilling.

We Need Your Voice: Help Protect the Boreal Woodland Caribou

Nicknamed ‘grey ghosts’ for their shy, elusive nature, Boreal Woodland Caribou can't elude encrouching industrial activity that's destroying its habitat.

Back in August, the federal government released a proposed a recovery strategy to boost the Boreal Woodland Caribou’s numbers. The Caribou is threatened by industrial activities that have caused some herds to be critically endangered – and the rest are under increasing pressure.


While it's an important step in the right direction, we need a strong strategy to ensure a return to vibrant Boreal Woodland Caribou populations across the country -- and this plan isn't it.  

The recovery strategy is available online and the public can comment until October 25. You can visit the Species at Risk Public Registry's web site to post your comments, or go our site to send a letter asking Environment Minister Peter Kent to take these measures:

1. Strengthen the goal

The proposed strategy allows a 40% chance that herds will continue to decline – this is an unacceptably weak threshold. Make it a strategy for recovery, not continued decline.

2. Protect more habitat

The proposal would keep, at most, only 65% of the caribou’s range intact, and as little as 5%. Much more than 65% of habitat needs to remain intact for self-sustaining caribou populations to thrive.

3. Don’t kill wolves instead of protecting caribou.

Indefinite killing of wolves, moose, and deer is not an acceptable alternative to protecting caribou habitat. This is not a sustainable solution – protecting intact habitat is the solution.

I strongly encourage you to speak up on behalf of the Boreal Woodland Caribou and ensure stronger measures are taken to protect this iconic species.

On the Road with IBA Caretakers

Ted Cheskey, our manager of bird conservation, is out on Canada’s west coast meeting volunteer Caretakers who are part of the Important Bird Areas Program. On a visit to the Sidney Channel IBA in North Sidney B.C., Ted had a chance to speak with James Finley, IBA Caretaker, about marine IBAs, being a Caretaker, and his love for the beautiful Bufflehead:



Sidney Channel is a 4 km wide body of water that lies along the extreme southeast shore of Vancouver Island between James Island (and the larger Saanich Peninsula) and Sidney Island.

The Sidney Channel IBA is a terrific place to birdwatch. In one short boat excursion, Ted saw Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Herrmann's Gull, Bald Eagle, Brant Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, and Harlequin Duck, as well as Harbour Seals and Harbour Porpoises. Of particular significance at this site are the large concentrations of Brandts Cormorants during fall migration (just over 1% of the worlds estimated population), and Mew Gulls and Brant during spring migration.

As a Caretaker, James is the eyes, ears and feet on the ground at his IBA. Like other Caretakers, James has been matched to his specific IBA to monitor birds, assess habitats, and conduct conservation activities. He works with local communities, scientists, governments and nature groups to promote Important Bird Areas and to ensure that local conservation ideas are put into action. Hands-on volunteer work from people like James helps build healthier bird communities and more sustainable environments for future generations.

BC Nature, with financial assistance from Nature Canada's Communities in Action Fund, launched the first Caretaker Network in Canada. In 2009, TransCanada Corporation committed $1 million over five years as a national sponsor of the Canadian IBA Caretakers Network, so that today, volunteer Caretakers are in all ten provinces.

BirdLife International began the IBA program in Europe in the 1980s in order to identify, conserve and monitor a network of sites that provides essential habitat for bird populations. Since that time, BirdLife partners in more than 178 countries and territories have joined together to build the global IBA network. Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada co-deliver BirdLife's IBA Program in this country.

Bufflehead, photo by Vladmir Morozov

This weekend, James and many of his neighbours in Sidney will be celebrating the return of that community’s adoptive bird, the Bufflehead. According to James, who has been observing these birds at Sidney Channel Important Bird Area (IBA) for many years, Buffleheads arrive there and at Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Vancouver Island on the 298th solar day of the year, every year. This timing equates to the 15th day of October (except in Leap Years), and October 15 has come to be known as All Buffleheads Day in recognition of the annual migratory event.

So this weekend, take a moment to consider the Bufflehead and the special place it holds in Canada's natural history. If you happen to be in Sidney, British Columbia, join the celebrations for All Bufflehead Day and the 80th anniversary of the Shoal Migratory Bird Sanctuary at Lillian Hoffar Park.

Raising the Alarm Over Ostrander Point

In case you missed it, our own Ted Cheskey, manager of our bird conservation programs, took to the radio and TV air waves to talk about an industrial wind project at Ostrander Point in Prince Edward County Ontario -- site of an Important Bird Area that sees hundreds of thousands of migrating birds each fall. It's a classic case of a great thing in the wrong place. From the CBC:

An internationally recognized "Important Bird Area" is being threatened by an Ontario wind power development, a Canadian conservation group alleges.


Gilead Power Corporation hopes to build a nine-turbine wind farm on the south shore of Prince Edward County, a huge peninsula that juts into eastern Lake Ontario.

Nature Canada worries the project will kill untold numbers of migratory birds because it is right next to a National Wildlife Area used by hundreds of thousands birds as a stopover point on their yearly journeys north and south.

“It's like a highway. Sort of like the equivalent of the Trans-Canada or the 401,” said Ted Cheskey, manager of Nature Canada's bird conservation programs.

Cheskey says that it is unusual for his organization to get involved in a fight like this because they are a national group and this looks on the surface like a local issue. But he felt they had no choice because this project is located in an “important bird area” (IBA). IBAs are a designation given by Birdlife International, a global partnership of conservation organizations that works to protect birds and their habitats.

Allowing a wind power project on the south shore of Prince Edward County would set a bad precedent, Chesky said...

Read the rest of the article.

The issues raised over controversial projects like this, or a similar one at Wolfe Island, are complex. On the one hand, global warming is creating a climate crisis that poses perhaps the greatest threat to people and biodiversity in our lifetime. Wind energy is a clean, abundant, renewable source of energy that can contribute to combating the harmful environmental changes brought about by climate change.

On the other hand, the government needs to set clear standards to ensure that projects are more carefully sited so that harm to birds, bats and other wildlife is avoided or minimized. Wind turbines and wind farms should not be located in places – such as Important Bird Areas – where birds congregate, migrate and breed.

The development of wind energy in Canada, coupled with conservation measures to reduce all forms of fossil fuel consumption, is important and should move forward. And with the right regulation to ensure good things in good places, we can have wind energy and protect migratory bird populations at the same time.

Connect with Nature: Make a fall craft

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, this is a great time to get creative and make a nature-themed fall craft. Here are 3 easy crafts to get you in the holiday spirit:

Autumn placemats
The vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of fall foliage make a great decoration for the holiday season. You can make a placemat for your Thanksgiving feast by following these few simple steps:

1) Head out for a walk around your neighborhood or your favourite park and gather a collection of leaves. Try to collect as many colours and shapes as you can.

2) Cut two pieces of clear contact paper about two feet long and remove the backing from the first piece. Arrange the leaves on the sticky side and seal the mat by placing the second piece on top. If you’d like to add more colour, place a piece of construction paper behind the leaves before sealing the mat. Just give the edges a trim and you’re all done.

Apple stamps
Apples aren't just for eating! They can also be a fun way to decorate almost any surface. Lucky for us, creating an apple stamp is easy.

1) Enjoy a day of apple picking and crisp fall air at a local orchard. Save the good apples for eating and reserve the bruised ones for your craft.

2) Choose the surface you’d like to decorate. It can be a canvas bag, a notebook, a table cloth or even a t-shirt. You’ll also need to choose some paint. Make sure to choose a type of paint that can sustain the wear and tear that your finished product will endure.

3) Cut the apple in half from top to bottom and absorb any excess moisture by pressing the flesh side against a paper towel. Use a paint brush to coat the cut side of the apple in the colour of your choice and stamp away. Be sure to hold the apple down firmly and apply equal pressure to the top and sides.

4) Once the image has dried, use a marker to put the finishing touches on your creation by drawing a stem or leaf on your print.

Squash bowling
Are you up for a craft that is a bit more adventurous? How about making some bowling pins out of squash? A game of bowling is a great way to pass the time while you wait for Thanksgiving dinner to cook. Here’s how you get started:

1) Head out to your local farmers market and purchase 10 butternut squashes. You’ll also need a round gourd to act as your bowling ball.

2) Number each squash from 1 to 10 using vinyl sticker numbers. Cut two pieces of painters tape long enough to go around the squash and place one above and another below the number. This should mark a stripe around the squash.

3) Colour in the stripe with a marker or acrylic craft paint. After your “pin” is dry, carefully peel off the stickers and tape.

4) Create a bowling lane in your backyard, set up the pins and have fun!

Photo by Ian Kelsall

Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project Threatens B.C.’s Fragile Ecosystems and Coastal Communities

More than two decades ago, the Exxon Valdez ran aground, spilling 40 million litres of crude oil into Prince William Sound and causing irreversible damage. Now, Enbridge Inc. wants to bring the same risk to B.C.'s pristine coastal waters and rainforest with its Northern Gateway Project.

Today, Enbridge Inc. is awaiting approval of a proposed pipeline that would carry oil from the tar sands to a port at Kitimat, British Columbia. After travelling nearly 1,170km through pristine wilderness and First Nations homelands, tar sands oil would be loaded on tankers bound for Pacific markets. To get there, they must first navigate the perilous northern B.C. coast, travelling the same waters where the Queen of the North ferry sank in 2006. An oil spill in this area would:

•    Cause irreversible harm to the livelihoods of many coastal and aboriginal communities
•    Fragment the Great Bear rainforest and the boreal forest, home to birds and other wildlife, including Caribou and Grizzly Bears
•    Expose 28 Important Bird Areas teeming with marine birds, fish and other animals to oil pollution from increased tanker traffic and an impossible-to-rule-out oil spill.

Nature Canada, and many stakeholders from First Nations to Members of Parliament, oppose the project on the grounds that it poses unacceptable risks to the ecosystems and coastal communities of British Columbia’s northern coast. In collaboration with BC Nature, we are preparing for the upcoming hearings on the Northern Gateway Project that will determine whether the pipeline is built. Our primary interest is the potential impacts of the project on wildlife (including birds) and their habitats. As joint interveners in the Joint Review Panel process we will be focusing on potential impacts on terrestrial wildlife and habitat along the pipeline route, with special attention to Woodland Caribou, and on terrestrial and marine birds and their habitat along the pipeline route and in the coastal waters through which the oil would be shipped (including Important Bird Areas).

We have hired three experts with in-depth knowledge and experience on these different aspects who are helping us review Enbridge’s application in order to verify whether it has accurately assessed the potential impacts of its proposed project. Our experts have so far identified many areas where the application is inconsistent, vague or has errors and omissions.

This past August, we submitted our questions to Enbridge as part of the information request step of the process. Enbridge will respond to these requests by October 6, and following a second round of information requests, we will file our written submission with the Joint Review Panel by December 23. In that submission, we will provide our own evidence regarding the project’s potential impact on Woodland Caribou, birds and Important Bird Areas, ensuring the Panel has the information it needs to understand the potential impact of the project on the ecosystems it proposes to alter so significantly.

Further down the line, our evidence will be reviewed by the Panel and our experts may need to defend our evidence when we reach final hearings in the summer of 2012. We will keep you up to date on our progress – so stay tuned! In the mean time, you can participate in the hearings by sending a letter to the Joint Review Panel by March 13, 2012, or making an oral statement at the community hearings (registration ends October 6).

 Want to learn more about the Northern Gateway Project? Visit our website!