Many people are aware of the plethora of fish species which inhabit the Niagara River, but what is less commonly known is that the Niagara River Corridor supports a wide variety of bird populations, especially in the winter months.
“It's kind of a staging, overwintering site for many ducks and gulls because the water is open, and there's food,” said Marcie Jacklin, a local ornithology expert and co-chair of BON21, the third annual international winter celebration of the birds that call the Niagara Corridor home.
Events and guest speakers are featured February 12, 13, and 14. No registration is required, and all programs are free to the public. Participants will have opportunities to engage speakers online, and participate in contests. The festival is organized by an international partnership of bird-centred organizations and specialists, dedicated to promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Niagara River.
Full details are available online at www.birdsontheniagara.org.
Jacklin said that the Niagara River Corridor is a tourist attraction and magnet for serious birdwatchers, because it's unusual to have so many species in one place. “You can see more species of gulls here during the winter than anywhere else in the world,” she said.
The Corridor is, in fact, one of the world's most biodiverse places, comparable to the Galapagos Islands and the Florida Everglades, and has received an international designation for its winged multifariousness.
In pre-COVID times, birders would assemble at a site in Niagara Falls for the winter festival, to visit exhibits and listen to guest lecturers. This year, the celebration is entirely online, due to the pandemic and social lockdown.
Organizers suggest that the event has a Valentine’s Day theme, reflected in the fact that many of the birds are wearing their breeding plumage, thus bringing a hint of romance to the festivities.
Asked for potential highlights of the weekend, Jacklin offered a few suggstions.
“Social Justice and how Birds Connect Us” is the keynote theme of Dr. Drew Lanham, Distinguished Alumni Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Clemson University, and a National Audubon board member. His focus is on the ecology of songbirds and the “intersections of race, place, and conservation.”
“I think Dr. Lanham is going to be amazing,’ said Jacklin. “I've seen videos of him speaking, and he's very poetic. And he will be talking about the African American experience in wildlife conservation, so I think that will be very interesting.”
Dr. Timothy Beatley is a professor in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning in the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last 25 years. Much of Beatley’s work focuses on the subject of sustainable communities, and creative strategies by which cities and towns can fundamentally reduce their ecological footprints. Beatley’s discussion of “sustainable and resilient cities” addresses environmental challenges.
Paloma Plant is the project coordinator and a co-founder of the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) in Canada, a migratory bird rescue and advocacy group. She is responsible for public outreach and education programs, as well as coordinating volunteers and activities for the building collision monitoring programs that FLAP has pioneered since its inception in 1993.
FLAP asserts that each year millions of birds die in collisions with buildings, and Plant’s presentation will highlight FLAP’s mission to inform and educate people about keeping birds safe from daytime and nighttime collisions with hard structures.
Justin Peter is the Director of Programs at Worldwide Quest Nature Tours in Toronto. He previously worked as senior naturalist at Algonquin Provincial Park, and is a life member of the Ontario Field Ornithologists. Peter’s presentation has a focus on the gulls of the Niagara River Corridor, and provide tips birders about getting started in gull watching.
Ottawa-based Tony Beck and Nina Stavlund of Always an Adventure provide wildlife and photography services as they lead guided tours and conduct educational programs, photography workshops, birding excursions, and presentations. Their lecture will explore bird specialities of Niagara, and techniques to capture them photographically.
“Tony and his wife Nina are amazing, world class photographers, and Nikon ambassadors. Their talk about photography is timely, because it’s the fastest-growing component of bird appreciation,” said Jacklin.
Bird populations in the region are seeing their breeding grounds reduced, due primarily to human disturbance, said Jacklin. Climate change is also having an impact, as mild winters mean that the birds are not arriving as early to the Niagara River Corridor.
“I think that really speaks volumes to why we started this festival,” said Jacklin. “It's because of our concern about conservation along the river, and keeping what we've got healthy.”
