The City of Ottawa wants to be designated a Bird Friendly City under a national program led by Nature Canada, which would acknowledge efforts to protect birds in the capital.
At a Feb. 17 meeting of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King sought an endorsement of the submission in a formal letter of support to accompany the application.
“I would just encourage my colleagues to support this. It costs the city nothing, it recognizes the work already happening in our community, and it gives Ottawa national recognition,” King said.
The application is being led by Bird Friendly Ottawa, whose mission is to reduce threats to birds, including window collisions, habitat loss and light pollution, while promoting public education and responsible pet ownership.
Ottawa’s birds face significant urban threats. Local conservation sites estimate that around 250,000 birds are killed in Ottawa each year because of collisions with untreated glass alone. Exterior lighting, pesticide use and free-roaming cats also continue to harm local populations.
The Bird Friendly City certification was developed by Nature Canada to encourage municipalities to reduce human-caused threats to bird populations. This includes efforts to protect and restore habitat and engage residents in conservation and education. Municipalities that meet minimum standards in lowering hazards get an official certification.
Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, the city’s director of climate change and resiliency, says the council support is needed for approval, as this will continue to be a community led initiative.
“This is not something necessarily led by staff,” Hoover-Biensaz told committee members. “The Bird Friendly Ottawa team has been strong advocates within the community and has been working with the Natural Systems team.”
Ottawa’s geography makes the designation particularly significant. The city is on the Atlantic Flyway, a major migration route, which sees millions of birds pass through the region annually. There are more than 180 species nesting in the urban area and about two million birds living in the area, especially near the Ottawa River, an important bird and biodiversity area.
Hoover-Bienasz says Ottawa already meets many of the certification criteria through existing bird safety programs, though the certification involves ongoing accountability.
“There is a tri-annual recertification process, and as part of that process there is a requirement to demonstrate progress,” she said, adding that some staff time would be required to support the application and future reviews.
The committee unanimously recommended council endorse the submission and authorize a letter of support to accompany it. If Nature Canada accepts, Ottawa will join dozens of municipalities recognized under Nature Canada’s program, including Gatineau. The recommendation will be considered at a future meeting of City Council.
