Vancouver Bird Strategy

Our goal is to become a world leader in supporting a year-round rich and diverse group of native birds, accessible in all parks and neighbourhoods, and attracting global visitors.

Birds in Vancouver

Birds are important to our city as they are an excellent indicator of a healthy ecosystem – a link between people and local biodiversity.

Over 250 species of resident, migratory and over-wintering birds are regularly observed in greater Vancouver.

Map and Guide to the Most Common Birds in Vancouver (1.8 MB)

The Vancouver Bird Strategy works to create conditions for native birds to thrive in Vancouver and across the region. It identifies actions that we can take to:

Reduce threats
Enhance habitat
Improve access to nature
Enhance awareness
Grow bird-related tourism

The strategy will lead to outcomes that directly support:

A healthy ecosystem and biodiversity within our urban environment
Ecological policy areas identified in the Vancouver Plan and other city-wide strategies

Review the complete Vancouver Bird Strategy (2 MB)

Why birds are important to Vancouver and our environment

Birds are important to our ecosystem. They provide pest control, pollination, and spread seeds. They also enrich our lives with their sound and beauty.

Vancouver and the Fraser River Delta are an important and major stop on the Pacific Flyway, a bird migration route that stretches from Alaska to South America along the Pacific Coast. The delta’s shorelines and forests create rich habitats for migratory and native birds.

But because of human settlement, industry, and forestry, there has been a 35% decline in characteristic bird species in the Pacific Coast region of Canada since 1970. With over 250 species of resident, migratory, and overwintering birds regularly observed in Metro Vancouver, it is our responsibility to reduce the impact of urbanization on birds.

Strategy details

How we will create a city where native birds can thrive
The actions we and residents, businesses, and institutions in Vancouver take have a considerable impact on whether birds thrive within the city. To support urban bird populations, we will:
- Support habitat by protecting, enhancing, and creating habitats for a diversity of native birds
- Reduce threats to birds in the urban environment
- Enhance access to nature for residents and visitors to Vancouver
- Enhance awareness of the importance of birds and their needs to the community
- Increase tourism by encouraging bird tourism and related economic development opportunities
Benefits to implementing the strategy
Implementing the Vancouver Bird Strategy has important economic, social, and environmental benefits for Vancouver.

Environmental benefits

Beyond the link between birds and people and local biodiversity, birds perform important services to our ecosystem, they:
- Disperse seeds
- Consume vast numbers of insects
- Reduce the transmission of disease
- Provide pest control and pollination services for horticulture, agriculture, and forestry
Economic benefits

Increasing interest in nature tourism offers new economic opportunities for Vancouver. Birding tourism contributes to local economies. In 2009, $36 billion was spent on birding tourism in the United States.

Social benefits

Birds like chatty Black-capped Chickadees, trilling Song Sparrows, soaring Bald Eagles, and colourful Rufous Hummingbirds animate our city. Their songs, flight, and colour connect us to nature, physically and emotionally.
Our partners
We partnered with these organizations to develop the Vancouver Bird Strategy:
- Bird Studies Canada
- Environment Canada
- Nature Vancouver
- Pacific Wildlife Foundation
- Stanley Park Ecology Society
- Stewardship Centre for BC
- Tourism Vancouver
- UBC Greenest City Scholar Program
- Vancouver Artists Studio Residencies in Parks
- Vancouver Public Library
- Vancouver School Board
- Vancouver School Board
Work done so far
Vancouver to re-apply for certification as a Bird Friendly City

May 10, 2023 - Vancouver was one of the first cities in Canada to receive Bird Friendly City certification in May 2021. To maintain this certification, Council directed staff to re-apply for certification under the Nature Canada's Bird Friendly City program .
- Review the Council report and meeting minutes “The Bird is the Word: Elevating Vancouver’s Strategy” (212 KB)
Vancouver Bird Strategy update approved by Council

January 19, 2021 - The 2020 update of the Vancouver Bird Strategy was approved by City Council.
- Review the Council report “Vancouver Bird Strategy Update and Implementation” (2.4 MB)
- Review the Council meeting minutes (104 KB)
Bird Friendly Design Guidelines report approved by Council

May 16, 2017 - After 2 years of being applied on a voluntary basis, the Bird Friendly Design Guidelines are now standard guidelines. They will be applied with special consideration in the Cambie Corridor and City Facilities Planning and Development projects.
- Review the Council report "Bird Friendly Design Guidelines" (347 KB)
- Review the Appendix A - Bird Friendly Design Guidelines (193 KB)
Vancouver Bird Strategy approved by Council

January 21, 2015 – The Vancouver Bird Strategy and Bird-Friendly Design Guidelines and Bird-Friendly Landscape Operational Guidelines were approved by City Council.
- Review the Council report "Vancouver Bird Strategy Initiatives and Design Guidelines" (90 KB)
- Review the Council meeting minutes (80 KB)
City staff directed to develop a bird strategy for Vancouver

May 2013 – Vancouver City Council and the Park Board direct City staff to develop a bird strategy for Vancouver.
Background

2018

Vancouver was selected to host the 27th International Ornithological Congress after submitting a winning bid to the organizing society. The congress was held in August 2018, and is considered the most prestigious event for bird scientists around the world.

2013 to 2014

Mayor Robertson proclaimed open Bird Week, a week-long series of events about birds. Bird Week 2014 included a highly publicized City Bird competition where 700,000 votes were cast for the official city bird for Bird Week 2015.

2010

Since 2010, the City has partnered with the Vancouver Park Board, Nature Canada, Bird Studies Canada, Stanley Park Ecology Society, and other community partners to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and provide a week of public education programming about birds and bird habitat. World Migratory Bird Day is a United Nations-sponsored initiative that recognizes the importance of birds as key indicators to our environment's health.

2009

We rolled out the Greenest City Action Plan to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020. One of the goals, access to nature, addresses the need to incorporate nature in the urban environment, including a diversity of birds.

Vancouver Bird Strategy

Birds in Vancouver

Why birds are important to Vancouver and our environment

Strategy details

How we will create a city where native birds can thrive

Benefits to implementing the strategy

Environmental benefits

Economic benefits

Social benefits

Our partners

Work done so far

Vancouver to re-apply for certification as a Bird Friendly City

Vancouver Bird Strategy update approved by Council

Bird Friendly Design Guidelines report approved by Council

Vancouver Bird Strategy approved by Council

City staff directed to develop a bird strategy for Vancouver

Background

2018

2013 to 2014

2010

2009

Resources

Documents

Strategy

Guidelines

Related initiatives

Questions about the Vancouver Bird Strategy?

Vancouver Bird Strategy

Birds in Vancouver

Why birds are important to Vancouver and our environment

Strategy details

How we will create a city where native birds can thrive

Benefits to implementing the strategy

Our partners

Work done so far

Background

Resources

Documents

Related initiatives

Questions about the Vancouver Bird Strategy?

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies