Save the boreal forest: Ontario’s songbird nursery

Many of the colourful little birds that you see in your local park or at your backyard bird feeder have a story to tell that may surprise you. They are on their way to or returning from one of the Earth’s most important natural areas: the boreal forest.

The boreal forest is THE single most important breeding ground for birds in Canada. It is estimated that 300 species and 2 BILLION individual birds breed in the boreal forest before migrating south. As Ontario is at the heart of the nation's boreal forest, it is Ontario's songbird nursery.

In Ontario, the boreal forest makes up a large part of the province. From the French River north, over one half of Ontario’s landmass of 1.1 million square kilometres is boreal forest. Ontario is the “heart” of the boreal forest region in Canada - an essential east-west connector across the continent.

Canada’s boreal forest is home to:

• 1.6 billion land birds, including songbirds
• 7 million shorebirds
• 14 million waterfowl

As you enjoy watching warblers, woodpeckers, wrens and other boreal forest migrants, remember that their future depends upon a healthy, intact boreal forest ecosystem. If action isn’t taken now to protect Ontario’s northern boreal region, this incredibly rich songbird nursery will be damaged forever.

To learn more about the boreal forest and its importance as a bird nursery, join Ontario Nature for an informative and colourful multi-media presentation entitled The Boreal Forest: Ontario’s Songbird Nursery. The presentation highlights some of Ontario’s songbirds, the threats facing their boreal forest nesting sites, and what you can do to help protect them. For more information, contact 416-444-8419 or jenniferb@ontarionature.org.

For more information about boreal forest songbirds, visit the Boreal Songbird Initiative website at www.borealsongbirds.org.

Tour Dates 2007-2008

Additional dates will be added throughout the year so check back often to see when we will be in your area.

Georgetown
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Halton/North Peel Field Naturalists

London
Friday, September 21, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
McIlwraith Field Naturalists
Civic Garden Complex on Springbank Drive

Simcoe
Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Norfolk Field Naturalists
Simcoe Seniors Centre, 89 Pond Street

Richmond Hill
Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Richmond Hill Naturalists
Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church, Wallace Hall. 10066 Yonge St. in downtown Richmond Hill, just north of Major Mackenzie Dr. on the west side.

Port Hope
Friday, October 26, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Willow Beach Field Naturalists
Beatrice Strong School, 90 Rose Glen Road North

Lake Dalrymple
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Carden Field Naturalists
Lake Dalrymple Recreation Centre

Sault Ste. Marie
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. – speaker to arrive by 7:00 p.m.
Sault Naturalists Club
Great Lakes Forestry Center, 1219 Queen Street East

Ontario Nature works in partnership with the Canadian Boreal Initiative. We also thank the Richard Ivey Foundation for their financial support.