Nature Canada TransCanada Corporation has committed C$1 million to the Canadian Important Bird Area Caretakers Network Zoom In

TransCanada Corporation commits a million dollars to bird conservation

11-06-2009

As millions of migratory birds return northwards from their non-breeding grounds, Nature Canada (BirdLife Partner) has announced that TransCanada Corporation will support an initiative to protect important bird habitat across the country.

TransCanada Corporation has committed C$1 million over the next five years as a national sponsor of the Canadian Important Bird Area Caretakers Network, a nationwide initiative to establish a volunteer network of caretakers who will watch over and protect Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in their community.

"Community stewardship of local bird habitat is essential for the health of the Important Bird Area system – and for the birds", said Mara Kerry, Nature Canada's director of conservation. "These natural spaces are vitally important for our breeding, migrating, staging and wintering birds, and the conservation of these sites is a cornerstone of effective bird conservation."

Volunteer caretakers, who can be individuals or nature groups, will help conserve IBAs by surveying bird populations, building nest boxes, erecting signs, removing invasive species, planting native grasses, and promoting awareness of the value of wildlife. There are 597 IBAs in Canada.

"Community stewardship of local bird habitat is essential for the health of the Important Bird Area system" —Mara Kerry, Nature Canada

"TransCanada believes in building relationships in the communities in which we live and work and this philosophy is shared with the Caretaker Network Program", said Brian McConaghy, TransCanada Corporation's VP of Community, Safety and Environment. "Caretakers work with the community to promote Important Bird Area sites and to ensure that local conservation ideas are put into action." 

TransCanada has been a strong supporter of Nature Canada's bird conservation efforts inside Important Bird Areas for the past six years.

"Support from partners like TransCanada means there will be eyes and ears on the ground at IBAs to increase awareness and undertake conservation action", said Kerry. "This will help ensure a brighter future for birds, and help to preserve healthy ecosystems for birds, other wildlife, and people."

Nature Canada is the Canadian co-partner, with Bird Studies Canada, in BirdLife International. Together they deliver the international Important Bird Areas (IBA) program in Canada, which aims to identify, conserve and monitor a network of sites that provides essential habitat for bird populations.

BirdLife comprises more than 100 conservation organisations working together to promote sustainable living as a means to conserve biodiversity.

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