Regina welcomes migratory birds through World Migratory Bird Day celebration
May 14 is World Migratory Bird Day and Nature Saskatchewan celebrated the occasion in Regina with an event at the Saskatchewan Science Centre.
Starting with a tipi raising Saturday morning, bird lovers off all ages, like Parker, were given an education about the importance of migratory birds to the local ecosystem through bird watching walks, games and information stations.
“[My favorite] was the owl station where you had to find bones,” said Parker. “I just like looking for bones.”
According to the Canadian Wildlife Service, over 200 Canadian geese and at least 115 other species of migratory birds nest at the Wascana Migratory Bird Sanctuary every year.
Under the theme "Dim the light for birds at night," Nature Saskatchewan raised awareness of the threats birds face during their migration such as light pollution.
“We’re asking people to shut off their outdoor lights,” said Lacey Weekes, manager of conservation and education at Nature Saskatchewan. “This will help birds through their migration journey.”
Because birds often migrate at night, Weekes explained how light pollution may lead to a bird’s migration to be delayed or stopped.
“Birds are attracted to light,” she said. “They’ll circle the lights around the city and use up all their energy. This can be detrimental to birds as they often have long journeys.”
According to Nature Saskatchewan, the leading causes of death for migratory birds are human-related. Over 250 million birds are killed by colliding with windows and being caught by pets annually.
Weekes suggests keeping animals, like cats, indoors and putting ‘feature friendly’ tape on windows to break up any reflections. These are just a few ways to help the winged travelers complete their migration.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.