Calgary, known for its diverse bird population from Fish Creek Provincial Park to the city center, has been recognized by Nature Canada for its efforts in creating a bird-friendly environment. The city recently received recertification, making it the first in Canada to achieve three certifications under the program.
John McFaul, the chair of Bird Friendly Calgary, highlighted that Calgary has implemented measures to address key threats faced by birds in urban settings, particularly window collisions and cat predation. Studies indicate that millions of birds are killed annually in Canada due to these factors. While Calgary does not mandate bird-safe windows, encouraging residents to turn off lights at night or mark windows has proven effective in reducing bird collisions.
Additionally, the City of Calgary’s Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw helps minimize cat predation by requiring cats to remain on their owner’s property. The city has also taken steps to reduce light pollution, such as replacing street lights with LED bulbs to protect migrating birds passing through the area.
Calgary boasts over 8,500 hectares of natural areas, providing ample greenspace for birds to thrive and nest. Nearly 300 local and migratory bird species can be observed in Calgary throughout the year.
The Bird Friendly City program coordinator for Nature Canada, Autumn Jordan, commended Calgary’s commitment to aiding bird populations. With grasslands as the primary ecosystem in Calgary, efforts to protect birds are crucial, as bird populations on the Prairies have significantly declined in recent decades.
Jordan emphasized the importance of public participation in bird conservation, suggesting simple actions like marking windows to prevent bird collisions. Calgary is among 36 municipalities in Canada certified as bird friendly, with other Alberta cities like Edmonton, Devon, and Strathcona County also on the list.