Birds Canada
P.O. Box 160, 115 Front Road N0E 1M0 Port Rowan, ON, Canada

YOUR BIRD MOMENT: Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) Length: 12-14 cm Weight: 11-20 g Common Redpolls are small, acrobatic, and lively finches found in the northern boreal region during the summer. Most winter from the boreal to southern Canada and the northern U.S. Biennial cycles in the availability of favourite foods, such as spruce and alder seeds, result in Common Redpolls visiting areas densely populated by humans every other year as they come farther south in search of ...food. The Common Redpoll has a yellowish beak and brown plumage with pale, streaked underparts. Adults have a red forehead and males have a pink or red wash underneath. Their chattering and bouncy mannerisms can be observed at feeders or as they hang precariously from the tips of tree branches to extract seeds from catkins or cones. In winter, they’ve been seen entering holes in snow to feed on the ground when vegetation is covered. Although the Common Redpoll’s northerly range means it is not well surveyed by the Breeding Bird Survey, it is reasonably well surveyed by the Christmas Bird Count and Project FeederWatch. It is considered common and widespread. This, plus its ability to adjust to food availability and conditions, means it is not currently of conservation concern. Photo: Phil Colwill **** VOTRE SURVOL D’OISEAU : Sizerin flammé (Acanthis flammea) Longueur : 12-14 cm Poids : 11-20 g Le Sizerin flammé, petit oiseau plein d’énergie au vol acrobatique, fréquente la zone boréale en été. La plupart des individus passent l’hiver entre la partie boréale et le sud du Canada et dans le nord des États-Unis. Tous les deux ans, au gré des cycles de rareté de sa nourriture préférée, comme les graines d’épinette et d’aulnes, le sizerin se déplace vers le sud dans les régions densément peuplées par les humains pour trouver sa pitance. Le Sizerins flammés ont le bec jaunâtre et le corps brun au dessous pâle rayé. Les adultes ont le front rouge et les mâles montrent du rose ou du rouge sur toute la poitrine. On peut observer leurs pépiements enthousiastes et leurs mouvements pleins d’entrain aux mangeoires ou au bout de branches d’arbres où ils extraient les graines des chatons ou des cônes. En hiver, on en a vu s’introduire dans des trous dans la neige pour s’alimenter sur le sol lorsque la végétation est enneigée. Le Relevé des oiseaux nicheurs (BBS) ne permet pas de faire le suivi du Sizerin flammé, qui se tient dans le Nord, mais les données du Recensement des oiseaux de Noël autorisent une évaluation raisonnablement fiable de sa situation. L’espèce est considérée comme commune et répandue. Si l’on ajoute à cela sa capacité d’adaptation aux variations des réserves alimentaires et des conditions ambiantes, on peut affirmer qu’elle n’est pas préoccupante sur le plan de la conservation. Photo : Phil Colwill

Got your eye out for holiday gifts that make a positive impact? Browse the bird-friendly gift ideas at the link in our bio ("Holiday Gifts That Help Birds"): https://www.birdscanada.org/give-the-gift-of-conservation There's something to please the crafters, coffee-drinkers - and of course, the bird lovers - on your lists. They'll love the gift and feel great knowing that it's helping birds! Thanks to Ted Gough for submitting this charming Black-capped Chickadee photo during our calendar photo contest.

On November 5, 2020, the Government of Ontario revealed its plans to severely curtail the role of Conservation Authorities in watershed planning and management. Please support the call from the NGO community to withdraw Schedule 6 from Bill 229, which would significantly undermine efforts to conserve biodiversity - including birds - and to build community resilience to climate change. An example of how you can speak up is through Ontario Nature's email writing campaign: https://bit.ly/2KsDuAQ You can also call your local MPP to express your concerns and urge the government to withdraw Schedule 6 from Bill 229.

Huge thanks to everyone taking part in Project FeederWatch during the 2020-2021 season, on now! Your bird counts will help us all learn more about winter bird populations across North America. It's not too late to sign up - visit https://www.birdscanada.org/you-can-he/project-feederwatch/ to learn more and participate from now until April. Thanks Breakfast Television & CityNews Vancouver for having Kerrie Wilcox from Birds Canada on the show.

Birds Canada is meeting with BirdLife International partners at the Americas Partnership Meeting, happening virtually from Nov. 18-20. It’s a great opportunity to share progress and work together on efforts to conserve birds across borders and across the hemisphere. Birds Canada’s contributions include: working with conservation partners to identify Key Biodiversity Areas in Canada, supporting research that illuminates the movements of birds by coordinating the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, and more! Thanks for all that you - our supporters - do to make this important work for birds happen. https://www.birdlife.org//partners/about-birdlife-americas BirdLife International Americas IBA Canada

Project FeederWatch starts today! Prepare yourself for maximum bird enjoyment this fall & winter by watching the feeder bird ID workshop that we recorded last week. Features Kerrie Wilcox & Andrés Jiménez from Birds Canada. https://www.facebook.com/358787267539963/videos/1493207287735022

Finding Canada's "Key Biodiversity Areas" holds promise for the future of conserving birds and other wildlife. Learn about KBAs & how Birds Canada and partners are driving this work forward: https://www.birdscanada.org/identifying-canadas-key-biodiv/

Prairie farmers, ranchers, and landowners are vital to the conservation of prairie habitats and the huge diversity of birds that make their home there. Birds Canada has produced the Grasslands Conservation Incentives Guide, a comprehensive guide to the financial incentives available to preserve, improve or restore prairie habitat. With over 45 programs and funding sources compiled in this easy to use guide, producers and landowners can easily access programs that will help them achieve their production and ecological goals. You can check out the new guide here: https://www.birdscanada.org//Birds-Canada-Grassland-Conser

Join us this Saturday, October 17th! Go birding & help us reach our goal of 25,000 people submitting eBird checklists. Your contributions will help us all better understand global bird populations. Learn more: https://ebird.org//n/october-big-day-2020-bigger-than-ever

In 2020, we've been celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program! We're grateful to all the volunteers who have been supporting the conservation of wetlands & wildlife through your participation over the past quarter century. We hope you enjoy this 20-minute presentation by Dr. Doug Tozer (Director, Waterbirds and Wetlands at Birds Canada) on lessons learned and conservation impacts arising from your dedicated efforts: https://youtu.be/jaNP5FAduAA

The Green Budget Coalition including Birds Canada just released its detailed recommendations for making climate and biodiversity objectives central to Canada’s recovery, featuring multi-billion dollar investments in building energy efficiency retrofits, clean transportation, nature-based climate solutions, and protected areas. You can check them out at: https://greenbudget.ca/recommendations-2020-2021/ (EN/FR) The Green Budget Coalition also recommends federal investments... in sustainable agriculture, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence protection and conservation, renewable energy, reducing plastic pollution, action on toxics, and other environmental issues. The Green Budget Coalition, active since 1999, brings together 25 of Canada's leading environmental organizations, collectively with over one million members and supporters, and decades of experience solving Canada’s biggest environmental challenges. The Green Budget Coalition’s members are: ALUS Canada, Birds Canada, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Canadian Wildlife Federation, David Suzuki Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ecojustice Canada, Ecology Action Centre, Environmental Defence, Équiterre, Friends of the Earth Canada, Greenpeace Canada, International Conservation Fund of Canada, International Institute for Sustainable Development, MiningWatch Canada, Nature Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Nature United, Pembina Institute, Seed Change Canada, Sierra Club Canada Foundation, West Coast Environmental Law Association, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and WWF-Canada.

Applications for Baillie Fund grants are now open! The Baillie Fund supports research, monitoring, education, and conservation projects that involve any wild bird species occurring in Canada. Learn more. https://www.birdscanada.org//funding-opportu/baillie-fund/

Happy Thanksgiving! We at Birds Canada are extremely thankful for your support for Canada's wild birds - during this challenging year and every year. We're also grateful for the amazing species that inspire our work - like the magnficent Wild Turkey! Take a moment to explore glorious turkey photos, sounds, video & more on eBird Canada: https://ebird.org/canada/species/wiltur

A big thank-you to everyone who has supported bird conservation by doing or sponsoring a Great Canadian Birdathon so far this year. In particular at this time, we'd like to thank all who supported The Canucks' Birdathon effort last weekend. Read this summary by Jody Allair to find out who went birding, which regions they explored (1 team member was VERY far from Canada) & what birds (and other wildlife) they encountered: https://www.birdscanada.org/team-canucks-great-canadian-bi/

Volunteers will be heading out across Ontario next spring to start collecting bird observations for the 3rd Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas! This project has a new website & Facebook page where you can learn more and get involved: https://www.birdsontario.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ONBreedingBirdAtlas

Purple Finches striking a pose! Do you have pics of this colourful feeder bird? Fly over to the Armstrong Bird Food Facebook page & enter them in the October photo contest for your chance to win prizes. Note that the contest closes to new entries October 19th. https://www.facebook.com/armstrongbirdfood/

Virtual event coming up October 16 from 7-8 pm - Explore some of Canada's wetlands with photographer Philip Jessup & Birds Canada. Phil will share photography tips as well as the potential of the underappreciated marshlands to provide nature-based solutions to climate change. He will be joined by Birds Canada experts James Casey (Fraser Estuary Specialist), Andrés Jiménez (Urban Birds Coordinator), and Steven Price (President). We hope you can join us! Learn more & sign up here: http://torontobirdcelebration.ca//explore-canadas-wetland/

Now streaming - Rare Bird Alert! This documentary follows birder Paul Riss as he hops around North America meeting birders of all stripes & exploring why people are flocking to this pastime. Don't worry if you missed the premiere on CBC last Saturday, you can watch it here: https://gem.cbc.ca//season-4/episode-10/38e815a-013365f2a47 Rare Bird Alert Doc Dream Street Pictures CBC Docs

The 2020 Global Bird Rescue starts today. Thank you to the participants rescuing birds & documenting collisions in their communities this week. Learn more about the event at: https://globalbirdrescue.org/ Thanks also to those who are raising awareness and helping to advance solutions - from making a window at your home safer for birds to encouraging your community to adopt bird-friendly policies! Global Bird Rescue Fatal Light Awareness Program Canada

Bird and Moon Comics by Rosemary Mosco are always worth reading! And this one has an important message. You can learn even more about window collisions & Global Bird Rescue on our blog at: https://www.birdscanada.org/make-an-impact-by-preventing-c/ Enjoy more Bird and Moon Comics at: https://www.birdandmoon.com/ Fatal Light Awareness Program Canada Global Bird Rescue

Yousif & the rest of Team Canucks are birding this weekend to raise funds for birds conservation! They may live in different parts of the country, but they are united in spirit. Many of them our out there right now, looking high and low for all the bird species hanging out in their area! We look forward to sharing their #GreatCanadianBirdathon highlights. If you'd like to do a Birdathon of your own, you can get started at: https://www.canadahelps.org//bird-studies-/p2p/birdathon20. Or, if you'd like to support bird conservation today by making a gift through Team Canucks, visit their team page: https://www.canadahelps.org//p2p/birdath/team/the-canucks/ #TeamCanucks

Birds Canada commends the federal government for signing the Leaders' Pledge for Nature and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, as a significant and positive step towards protecting Canada’s wildlife and natural areas. We applaud their goal in committing to protect 25% of Canada’s land and oceans by 2025, and 30% each by 2030, and we encourage the government to reflect these commitments in the ministerial mandate letter(s), and to provide the financial resource...s necessary to help make this a reality. A large and robust network of permanently protected natural areas, free of industrial activity, will help combat the threat of both a biodiversity and climate crisis. Canada’s goal to develop a protected areas network cannot be achieved without partnership with Indigenous communities, and we look forward to seeing Indigenous leadership continuing to be highlighted as an integral piece to effectively protecting nature. Birds Canada looks forward to working with the government, communities, and conservation partners to make this pledge a reality! Leaders' Pledge for Nature: https://www.leaderspledgefornature.org/ High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People: https://www.hacfornatureandpeople.org/ UN Biodiversity Summit: https://youtu.be/fqEWLmY7GTk

Vancouver Bird Week starts tomorrow! And this year it includes online events that you can enjoy wherever you live. See what's on: https://www.birdscanada.org/welcome-back-the-winter-birds-/ 2020 Vancouver Bird Week