Walk Softly – Don’t Let the Songs Die

by Geoffrey Carpentier

Without any exaggeration, our birds and many other wild things are under siege and face a battle they really can’t win, without help. Sounds gloomy? Well, it actually is!

Canada’s wild landscapes, from the Arctic tundra to the temperate rainforests of British Columbia, to our own Great Lakes and the vibrant rocky eastern coast, serve as a critical nursery for billions of birds. Over 450 species of birds call Canada home, for at least part of the year, and yet these avian marvels are under quiet but persistent siege. Since 1970, North America has lost nearly three billion birds - a staggering decline which signals a broader ecological crisis.

How long can birds continue to withstand the pressures, of urban sprawl, hunting, impacts with buildings and windows (estimated as 16 to 42 million Canadian birds killed annually), cats (100 million birds sacrificed in Canada per year), cars, wires, agricultural intensification, pesticides and habitat loss, before they disappear from the landscape forever?

If that’s not enough, climate change enhances this devastating and unpredictable threat, for Canadian species. Shifting temperatures can cause a phenomenon known as phenological mismatch, where birds migrate or hatch their young at times coincident with their biological clocks. This may no longer align with changes to the environment, where the peak availability of their primary food sources, such as insects or seeds, may no longer be present when they need them most. Even a delay or acceleration of a few days can have devastating effects.

Birds are far more than just beautiful singers; they are essential workers in our ecosystems. They act as a mechanism for natural pest control by consuming billions of insects, they are vital pollinators, and they facilitate forest regeneration by dispersing seeds across vast distances. Their decline is a dire warning to us, the environments we share are becoming less resilient and less healthy.

The good news is, bird conservation is a challenge where individual actions yield measurable results. Research into how to make our environments safe havens can have impactful and positive outcomes. However, someone must lead that charge. Citizen Science projects and university driven research can facilitate these outcomes. Still, that takes money, time and dedicated patrons. Birds Canada (formerly Bird Studies Canada) is the nation’s leading charitable organization dedicated to bird conservation. They utilize sound academic science, citizen science, and innovative technology, like the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, to monitor populations, protect critical habitats, and advocate for species at risk across Canada and beyond.

Raising money is never easy, but a long-standing and successful mechanism is The Great Canadian Birdathon which is North America’s oldest sponsored birding event. Every May, thousands of birders, from beginners to experts, spend 24 hours identifying as many species as possible. This high-energy ‘big day’ raises over $200,000 annually, supporting conservation efforts across the country and beyond.

Celebrating 50 years of successful fundraising, Birds Canada has awarded millions of dollars to bird research and conservation projects. The monies are distributed to individuals and groups who are working on projects to protect, enhance and study bird populations. Some of the recent projects funded by the Birdathon include ones which focus on Piping Plovers, Purple Martins, bird banding stations, Loggerhead Shrikes, Barn Swallows, Bluebirds, seabirds, breeding bird atlases, migratory songbirds & shorebirds, hawks and Barn Owls, to name a few. Most of these worthwhile projects could not survive without your generous donations.

I will be doing my Birdathon in late May of 2026, in support of Birds Canada. I'll be out for twenty-four consecutive hours, looking for birds in Durham and Kirkfield and environs. Annually, I find more than 155 species of birds and hope to top my best year ever (180 species) this year – fingers crossed! Still, I can't do this without your financial support. I believe in and support these projects..

If you would like to sponsor me in this year’s Great Canadian Birdathon - you can help me make a difference. To make an online donation go to my secure Birdathon link, at https://www.canadahelps.org/me/6QVgySJ Questions? Or feel free to contact me by email, at geoff.carpentier@gmail.com.

Geoff Carpentier is a published author, expedition guide and environmental consultant. Visit Geoff on-line on LinkedIn and Facebook.