Gatineau, Que., Kingston, Ont. officially named ‘bird-friendly’ cities

A pileated woodpecker clings to a tree trunk. (Getty Images)

Gatineau, Que. and Kingston, Ont. have been successful in their bids to become “bird-friendly” cities, according to Nature Canada.

A “Bird-Friendly City” is a designation granted by Nature Canada, a nature conservation charity, to communities that reduce threats to birds in their municipality, protecting and restoring natural habitat and increasing climate resiliency.

Nature Canada announced its latest bird-friendly cities Thursday. Also on the list are Stratford, Ont. and Comox, B.C.

“These additions bring the national total to 36 Certified Bird Friendly Cities,” Nature Canada said in a news release.

Cornwall and Peterborough have previously received the designation.

As part of their bids to designated as bird-friendly, both Gatineau and Kingston named official city birds. Gatineau selected the pileated woodpecker, while Kingston named both the northern cardinal and the crow after polling residents.

Nature Canada says Gatineau is the second city in Canada to receive its “High-Level Bird Friendly Certification”, which indicates many of the best practices to protect local and migratory birds are in place and growing.

“For example, the city has a bylaw to prevent cats from free-roaming, is expanding bird window-collision deterrent retrofits of buildings, and council has banned the use of neonicotinoids. Many volunteer residents also monitor local bird populations,” Nature Canada said.

Kingston earned an “entry level” bird-friendly certification. Nature Canada says the city is working “in collaboration with local naturalists, wildlife rehabilitation staff, environmental groups, volunteers, Algonquin First Nations, and Queen’s University to advance local conservation efforts to protect and restore birds and biodiversity at large.”

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