Calgary Becomes First Canadian City to Earn Third “Bird Friendly” Certification

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Calgary’s parks, green spaces, and urban initiatives are making the city a haven for birds, from the expansive Fish Creek Provincial Park to the bustling downtown core.

Thanks to these efforts, Calgary has been recertified by Nature Canada as a bird friendly city. The certification recognizes communities that actively promote co-existence with birds and take steps to protect them from the many hazards of urban life.

Calgary was among the first cities certified when the program launched in 2021, alongside Vancouver, Toronto, and London, Ont. With this year’s recognition, Calgary becomes the first city in Canada to achieve a total of three certifications.

How Calgary Protects Its Birds

John McFaul, chair of Bird Friendly Calgary, highlights the city’s proactive measures to reduce threats to birds. He identifies window collisions and cats as the two most significant dangers in urban environments.

According to the Government of Canada, 16 to 42 million birds die nationwide each year from flying into windows. While Calgary doesn’t legally require bird-safe windows, McFaul says residents are encouraged to mark or dim windows at night to prevent collisions—a simple but effective measure.

Cats also pose a serious risk. Studies estimate that domestic and feral cats kill between 60 and 350 million birds annually across Canada. Calgary’s Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw helps reduce this risk by requiring cats to remain on their owner’s property.

Light pollution is another concern, as it can disrupt migratory birds. The city has addressed this by replacing streetlights with LED bulbs and taking other measures to reduce excess lighting.

Beyond these protective measures, Calgary offers ample green spaces for birds to thrive. The city boasts over 8,500 hectares of natural areas, providing ideal habitat for nesting and foraging. Nearly 300 local and migratory bird species can be spotted in Calgary throughout the year.

Bird Conservation: A National Priority

Autumn Jordan, coordinator of the Bird Friendly City program for Nature Canada, emphasizes that Calgary’s efforts are crucial for broader bird population recovery.

“Reducing the impact of cats and windows can help bird populations rebound from the human-made threats they face,” she said.

Calgary’s grassland ecosystem is among Canada’s most endangered, and bird populations in the Prairies have dropped by 67% over the past 55 years, according to a 2024 report from Birds Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. Across North America, more than three billion birds have been lost since the 1970s.

Residents can also play a role in conservation. Jordan suggests simple actions, such as marking windows with patterns using an inexpensive marker, to prevent birds from flying into glass.

Currently, Calgary is one of 36 municipalities across Canada to hold the bird friendly certification, joining other Alberta communities like Edmonton, Devon, and Strathcona County.