On Apr. 7, 2022, Burlington became the seventh municipality in Canada to be certified by Nature Canada as a Bird Friendly City! On May 22, 2024, Burlington successfully renewed their Bird Friendly City certification with a higher designation level.
Saving birds' lives starts with local action. Across Canada, people are coming together to make their cities bird friendly. Nature groups, municipal officials, and other community groups are teaming up with Nature Canada to ensure our urban environments are safe havens for birds rather than a source of threats.
About Bird Friendly City
The Bird Friendly City (BFC) program aims to reverse the trend of declining wild bird populations and habitat loss, mostly due to human factors. It is run by Nature Canada with financial support from the Government of Canada.
A Bird Friendly City is one that has taken steps to:
- Reduce threats to wild birds, such as bird-window collisions, light pollution during migration, roaming cats, and pesticide use;
- Conserve, restore, and create bird habitat; and
- Engage the public in bird conservation and appreciation, through education, awareness, action, and citizen science initiatives.
Burlington: A Bird Friendly Certified City
On Apr. 19, 2022, Burlington City Council passed a unanimous resolution of support for being a Bird Friendly City, which aligns with Burlington’s Vision 2040 Strategic Plan goal of A Healthy and Greener City.
Burlington’s BFC certification was the result of bird-friendly efforts from:
- Local residents
- Schools
- Businesses
- The City of Burlington
- The Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington community group (BFHB)
- BurlingtonGreen
- Royal Botanical Gardens
- Field and Stream Rescue Team
- Conservation Halton
- Hamilton Naturalists’ Club
- Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System.
BFHB maintains the documentation and oversees the application process necessary to keep Bird Friendly City status. Re-certification is required every two years. The City of Burlington continues to work with BFHB and the community to maintain this certification.
Bird Friendly Actions
Below are some of Burlington’s bird-friendly actions:
- Installing bird-friendly glass (with dot markers) at Mountainside Community Centre, City View Park pavilion and Skyway Community Centre, which is opening later this year;
- Including bird-friendly measures in the Sustainable Building and Development Guidelines;
- Adopting a no-roam by-law for cats and other pets;
- Introducing public and private property tree by-laws, plus a goal to grow the City’s tree canopy;
- Taking action on climate change mitigation and adaptation, which includes nature-based solutions;
- Creating a firm urban boundary to reduce sprawl and preserve greenspace in north Burlington;
- Being a partner in the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System; and
- Being a partner in the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan.
How You Can Help Birds
Residents and community groups can help by visiting Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington, and also searching “birds” at Take Action Burlington, to learn how you can take action for birds!
Feeding Birds
While well-maintained bird feeders are permitted on private property in Burlington, it is unlawful to hand-feed or ground-feed birds and other wildlife on public or private property in Burlington, in accordance with Animal Control By-law 60-2005 as amended, and can result in a warning or fine from City of Burlington by-law enforcement.
Pets
Did you know that outdoor cats are by far the biggest threat to birds? Cats should not be allowed to roam at-large off your property, in accordance with Animal Control By-law 60-2005 as amended. You can learn ways to keep your cat happy and entertained indoors by visiting catsandbirds.ca.
Off-leash dogs running through a greenspace can also greatly disturb ground-nesting and ground-feeding birds, some of which are Species at Risk. Please keep dogs on-leash in accordance with the by-law, except at designated leash-free areas.
Found a Bird?
Visit Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington for helpful tips and resources for dealing with a dead, injured, or baby bird you’ve found, depending upon the situation.
Burlington's City Bird
Did you know that the Trumpeter Swan is Burlington’s official City Bird? In early 2022, BFHB conducted an online poll for the public to vote for a City Bird species most suitable to represent Burlington, from a list of 10 finalists nominated by the public. Trumpeter Swan took first place, followed by Northern Cardinal and Black-capped Chickadee. On Dec. 12, 2023, Burlington City Council confirmed the poll result by declaring the Trumpeter Swan Burlington's official City Bird.
Trumpeter Swans can be viewed at LaSalle Park, and some other parts of the city, from late fall to early spring, where they overwinter before heading north again to nest and breed in Central Ontario. A sign installed at LaSalle Park in 2023 tells the story of the recovery of this extirpated species in Ontario, its special connection to Burlington, and the local volunteers that have helped restore and care for this species. Learn more at Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington.
Go Birding!
In Burlington, we are lucky to have many beautiful parks, trails, greenspaces, and shorelines to enjoy birds. A variety of species can be seen throughout the year, but May is the most exciting time, when many spring migrants return to, or pass through, our city in their full breeding colours, and full of song. Early mornings are typically the best time to watch or listen for birds.
Don’t have binoculars? Did you know that the City of Burlington’s Lending Library and Burlington Public Library have birding kits available to borrow? Be sure to reserve yours in advance, as they can be quite popular.
Visit Tourism Burlington’s birding page, Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington’s birding page, and Hamilton Naturalists’ Club for more great tips and resources for enjoying birds locally.