How Can I Help Save Boreal Birds?
 Sign the Save Our Boreal Birds Petition
Tell the Canadian government that they need to protect the Boreal Forest for the billions of birds that depend on it. Sign the petition today >
Tell Your Friends and Family
We need the Canadian government to hear from as many people as possible. Tell your friends and family about the importance of protecting the Boreal. They too can help save our Boreal birds if you pass it on!
Learn About Boreal Birds
Educate yourself and your friends and family about the Boreal species you might see during spring and fall migration (or during breeding season if you are lucky enough to live in or near the Boreal Forest). Visit educational web sites, check out books, and join a local birding group. Contact one of the sponsors of this campaign to get started.
 Kids! Become a Boreal Bird Ambassador
There's a lot you can do to help the billions of birds that depend on Canada's Boreal Forest. Download this Boreal Bird Ambassador certificate and hang it up at home to remind you of how you can help.
Teachers! Share Boreal Birds with Your Class
Download copies of the Boreal Bird Ambassador certificate for your students.
Join a Group Working on Bird Habitat Protection
Conservation groups work to protect large areas of bird habitat in the Boreal Forest. There are also many community-based nature groups who undertake bird surveys and projects to help protect birds. Check the list of sponsors of this campaign to find a group near you.
Give a Lecture about Boreal Birds
Spread the word about Boreal birds and educate your community on the importance of Canada's Boreal Forest. Download this Powerpoint presentation on Boreal birds to support your talk. It's full of beautiful photos, and is a great way to share your love of Boreal birds with local friends and fellow birders. This presentation can be given at nature events, schools, libraries, or even in your living room.
 Go Birding
Perhaps the best way to learn about Boreal birds is to find them in your own neighborhood! Because Boreal birds migrate through southern Canada, the U.S., and parts of Central and South America, you can find them almost anywhere! Download this list of Boreal birds, grab your binoculars, and start looking today.
 Participate in a Citizen Science Project
Amateur and expert bird-watchers contributing observations greatly aid scientists as they determine trends of birds migrating to and from the Boreal. Lots of projects are available for participation. To find out more visit:
Speak Through Your Pocketbook and Lifestyle Choices
One of the most effective ways to help Boreal birds is to use your power as a consumer to force companies to improve their practices in the Boreal Forest. The Boreal is being eaten up for gas and oil production, mining, timber harvesting, and hydro-electric power.
Gas and Oil Production
Alberta's Tar Sands are Canada’s most serious environmental liability. This project has dire environmental consequences including impacting Boreal bird habitat. You can help by reducing your gas consumption which reduces the demand for oil from the Tar Sands. Some practical ways to reduce your gas needs are:
- Avoid using your car and instead walk, cycle, use public transportation, or carpool.
- Turn down the heat at night and while you are away from your home – or install a programmable thermostat.
- Buy locally which saves energy by reducing the distance products need to travel.
- Learn more about the Tar Sands in the recent report entitled Canada’s Toxic Tar Sands: The Most Destructive Project on Earth.
Timber Harvesting
Clearcut logging occurs in much of Canada’s Boreal Forest and the trees are often made into junk mail and catalogues. This has severe consequences for Boreal birds. Fortunately, many paper products use post-consumer recycled content instead of timber from the undeveloped Boreal Forest that billions of birds depend on as a breeding ground. You can help by reducing your paper consumption and purchasing post-consumer recycled products.
- Reduce and reuse paper products.
- Cut down on junk mail you receive by putting your name on "Do Not Mail" lists. Visit www.reddotcampaign.ca to learn more about the easy steps you can follow to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive from Canada Post.
- Buy recycled paper and tissue products (toilet paper, facial tissue, napkins, paper towels). Look for a high recycled content, ideally 100% recycled.
 Look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified products. These products come from forests have been harvested following good environmental and social standards. Learn more about FSC certified products and download the Shop Smart, Save Birds shopping guide.
Hydro-electric Production
Large-scale hydro-electric generation floods vast areas of forests, valleys, and lakes from dammed rivers and waterways. Much of the current and proposed large-scale hydro production targets the Boreal Forest – and this will destroy habitat for many Boreal birds. You can help by reducing your electricity consumption.
- Turn off lights when not in use.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Use fans rather than an air conditioner during the summer.
- Turn off your computer when not in use.
Let Your Conscience Do the Shopping
Here are a few more ways to make consumer decisions that can help the Boreal Forest.
 Buy shade-grown coffee. It is a more ecologically friendly type of coffee. Traditional sun-coffee plantations completely clear the forests in the birds’ wintering groups and require large amounts of fertilizer and pesticides, all of which harm birds and their habitats. With shade-grown coffee, the trees shade the coffee plants and provide bird habitat. The areas are havens for thousands of birds, particularly where there is little forest cover. Check out Boreal Blend Coffee – it's the perfect option for certified shade-grown coffee that helps Boreal birds. - Purchase organic foods or foods that use fewer and safer pesticides. This is good for you, good for the farming families and communities, and good for birds and other species of wildlife. Find an organic food source near you.
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