Numerous types of migratory birds make their way through Medicine Hat each year, including the Canada warbler.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Interpretive Program and the Grasslands Naturalists are inviting Hatters to join them in welcoming flocks of feathered friends back to the city Saturday on World Migratory Bird Day.
The groups are hosting the second annual World Migratory Bird Day event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Police Point Park.
An array of drop-in activities will be set up, through which attendees can learn about the various species of birds and the relationship between birds and the ecosystem. There will be a particular focus on the important role aquatic ecosystems play in sustaining bird populations, as the theme of this year’s MWBD event is ‘Water: Sustaining Bird Life.’
There will also be three expert-led bird watching walks at 6:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., respectively. Pre-registration is required for the walks. To register, call the park’s Nature Centre at 403-529-6225.
As well as expanding their knowledge of birds and the ecosystem, event attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the Grassland Naturalists’ ongoing effort to have Medicine Hat designated a Bird Friendly City through Nature Canada.
“It’s an ongoing thing,” Grasslands Naturalists member Marty Drut told the News. “There’s a set of criteria for communities to meet and to get designated as being bird-friendly (however) there’s different levels that you can enter into. So, we’re hoping that we will reach one of those levels sometime next spring.”
Drut explained that in order to be considered for the designation, a city must be offer birds healthy and safe environments, as well as demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of birds. Accomplishing this necessitates involvement from the city itself, something the Grasslands Naturalists are currently working toward.
Community education about birds is also a requirement the Grasslands Naturalists are hoping to meet through events like Saturday’s.
“Everyone knows that there’s robins here, but there’s lots of other birds that we have that are either migrating through or are here year round,” said Drut. “Some of them are very obvious, and some of them are not so obvious, so it’s going be enjoyable to (share that) with people.”
Additional information about the bird-friendly city initiative is available on naturecanada.ca or birdscanada.org, or can be provided through grasslands-naturalists.org.
