Local Issues
Several big projects in and around Calgary could prove difficult for the survival of our local birds. Stay tuned as we update this page with a few. Have an issue we should be aware of? Get in touch
Bird Friendly Calgary in the news!
Before Bird Friendly Cities Existed:
September 2, 2019: The shocking numbers of bird fatalities in Calgary by window strike
October 30, 2019: Calgary volunteers track building strikes by migrating birds
November 25, 2019: Calgary skyscrapers are killing birds — so volunteers are studying how to make downtown safer
November 25, 2019: Le centre-ville de Calgary : un environnement dangereux pour les oiseaux migrateurs
December 25, 2019: Volunteers count dead, injured birds and bats in downtown Calgary
February 13, 2020: The terrible toll of bird collisions with modern buildings
Bird Friendly City certification:
May 7, 2021: Calgary one of Canada's first Bird Friendly Cities
May 11, 2021: Calgary named one of four Bird Friendly Cities by Nature Canada
May 16, 2021: Calgary certified as one of the first bird friendly cities in Canada
July 22, 2021: Urban birds: a Nature Canada initiative has certified Calgary as a Bird Friendly City
July 18, 2022: Why North American bird populations are declining
April 30, 2023: Calgary's birding heritage
Bird Friendly City recertification:
December 8, 2022: Federal environment minister certifies 14 bird-friendly cities in six provinces
December 9, 2022: Canada now has 14 certified Bird Friendly Cities
January 3, 2023: Canadian cities push to protect birds from window collisions
November 13, 2023: Canada just got a lot more bird friendly: 7 municipalities recognized as great places to live for birds!
December 1, 2025: Calgary recertified as 'bird friendly city' for supporting local and migratory birds
December 5, 2025: Calgary recertified as 'bird-friendly' city by Nature Canada
City Bird vote:
City of Calgary Council recommendation for City Bird
City of Calgary timeline for City Bird vote
City of Calgary City Bird vote engage page
March 11, 2022: Calgary’s official bird: Citizens may have say on top beak
March 12, 2022: Calgary official bird: Councillor wants poll on City's favourite fowl
March 14, 2022: Magpie or blue jay? Calgary councillor says it's time to choose the city's official bird
March 15, 2022: Calgarians one step closer to choosing the city’s official bird
March 30, 2022: Public vote for Calgary’s official bird launched following council OK
April 1, 2022: Calgarians can now vote for city's official bird
April 5, 2022: Calgarians to decide city’s official bird
April 12, 2022: Calgary birders promote vote for city’s official bird
April 12, 2022: For the birds – Calgary votes for an avian ambassador
Lights Out Campaign
April 4, 2023: Simple steps can prevent bird deaths during coming spring migration: Experts
September 14, 2023: Conservation group suggests lights out bylaw to protect migrating birds
October 4, 2023: Dead birds in downtown Calgary being collected for conservation campaign, wildlife research
March 22, 2024: Calgarians asked to turn off lights during spring migration
March 25, 2024: Calgary Eyeopener: Lights Out
April 16, 2024: Lights out for birds: A call to action
May 24, 2024: Calgary's growing birding community concerned about migration, light pollution
August 22, 2024: With birds' fall migration underway, conservation groups reminding Calgarians to turn out the lights at night
March 17, 2025: Bird Friendly Calgary asks citizens to turn lights out during spring migration
March 21, 2025: Spring migration is beginning, and millions of birds will be travelling at night and outdoor lights can confuse them
March 24, 2025: Night Flight: How birds migrating to Alberta could use our help
August 11, 2025: Calgarians urged to cut lights at night as more birds turn up dead from window strikes
August 12, 2025: Urban wildlife team finds alarming rise in bird-window collisions in downtown Calgary
August 12, 2025: Bird Friendly Calgary urges residents to turn lights out at night during migration season
August 13, 2025: Calgarians asked to turn off lights after 100 birds found dead from window strikes in August
August 13, 2025: Alarming rise in bird-window collisions in downtown Calgary
August 15, 2025: ‘Flip a switch’: Calgarians encouraged to turn out the lights for birds
August 15, 2025: Turn out the lights at night for birds this fall
September 22, 2025: Volunteers searching downtown sidewalks for birds that have struck buildings
Other Media from BFC Members
March 21, 2022: The Warblers Podcast: The Bird Friendly City
November 1, 2022: Wildlife cameras under southwest ring road examine how animals travel after construction
March 12, 2023: Calgary group pushing for more awareness of bird-friendly windows
May 30, 2023: Tool that tracks birds’ migration patterns could aid in conservation efforts: biologists
October 6, 2023: The Current: ‘Noctalgia’ for the loss of dark skies
February 29, 2024: Potential for Canmore to be a dark sky community
January 4, 2024: No pussyfooting here, bobcats in Calgary are adapting to urban life
May 9, 2024: Geese nest in planters outside two nearby Calgary businesses
June 17, 2024: Calgary cat owner warns others after pet killed by bobcat
August 4, 2024: ‘It was killing me’: Calgary naturalist stops bird collisions on his windows with ‘zen curtains’
April 22, 2025: Woodpeckers causing costly damage for Calgary homeowners
June 25, 2025: Bobcat injures Calgary woman in 'extremely unusual' encounter
Letters to the Editor
January 14, 2023: Birds need protection
April 25, 2023: Solar farm would be welcome in different location
March 21, 2024: Protect our urban forest
August 2, 2024: Province needs to rethink grizzly hunt