Boreal chickadees are boreal residents that benefit from forest conservation. Photo by Nina Hale- license link
As you’ve seen in my previous posts, there are some big issues facing boreal forests and the birds that live there both as summer migrants and year-round. These issues include habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as the impacts of climate change. Some researchers have suggested that we need to protect large areas of important habitat and also create paths between them so that the birds (and other animals) can move as conditions change. Conservation at this scale can be a challenge, so it’s important for all of us to get involved.
Options to get involved with conservation at a big, big scale:
- Check out the Boreal Songbird Initiative to learn about things that can be done in the US or in Canada
- Sign the petition at Boreal Birds Need Half
- WCS North America has a project focused on birds in the Adirondacks
- Ducks Unlimited, Inc. in the US and Ducks Unlimited Canada are both very active in this area
- International Migratory Bird Day is actually celebrated in Canada and the US in May and in Mexico, Central & South America, and the Caribbean in October- there are events in multiple locations, so one may be near you
- You can volunteer for or donate to the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation
- at BirdLife International, you can donate to support their Flyways Programs for migratory birds or even become a ‘Species Champion’ to promote the needs of endangered birds
- US FWS has projects that connect to the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
And if you’re looking for something close to home:
- remember that many of the birds that nest in the forest are migratory- the American Bird Conservancy has suggestions for helping migrating birds
- Purchase wood and paper products certified by FSC to ensure responsible tree harvesting
We all have many opportunities, both big and small, to help out boreal birds!