Bird Friendly Woodstock Team issues public call-out to help select official avian representative

From left, the three finalists for Woodstock’s designated official bird, the American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee and Song Sparrow. (Richard Skevington Photos)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The City of Woodstock is officially for the birds.

“Nature Canada's ‘bird-friendly’ designation was recently confirmed,” said Sharron Skevington, a member of the unofficially titled Bird Friendly Woodstock Team, a subcommittee of the city’s Environment Advisory Committee (WEAC).

Nature Canada welcomed the Friendly City on June 5 along with Ottawa and Caledon, Ontario, and Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, into a 41-municipality flock taking action to promote bird-friendly environments.

Woodstock was identified as a community located on the banks of the Thames River, hosting valuable wetlands and varied shoreline ecosystems for both resident and migratory populations. The city’s provision of green spaces, urban pollinator gardens and recreational hiking trails through natural areas was mentioned.

The Nature Canada website also cited the positive efforts of WEAC, Woodstock Field Naturalists (WFN), the Upper Thames Conservation Authority, as well as community members.

“This designation reflects the city and the Environmental Advisory Committee’s (WEAC) ongoing dedication to safeguarding and protecting bird habitats, supporting conservation initiatives, and fostering a community that values the beauty of the birds that enrich our environment,” said Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione.

Councillor Mark Schadenberg added his congratulations to the committee for their successful application.

“Many studies note the dwindling number of many species of birds in Ontario, and our community is joining a group of environmentally conscientious communities by thinking more about birds and their habitat and also recognizing their importance to the ecosystem.”

Skevington explained communities qualify by gaining points reflecting threat reduction, habitat protection, restoration and climate resilience, and community outreach/education.

“In general, these are reflected in bird-positive actions including increasing habitat such as the Brick Pond Wetlands, trail systems and native plants which promote pollinators; enhancing avian safety, a term which can include keeping cats indoors or monitoring their potentially bird-harming behaviour while outdoors as well as bird-friendlier building design incorporating bird-friendly glass and reduced light pollution.”

She added reducing pesticide and herbicide use and ongoing Bird Team and WEAC focus on outreach through platforms including What’s On Woodstock Magazine and official social media channels are also part of the program.

The committee’s next focus will be on which bird should receive official Woodstock designation.

That process began with non-binding individual ballots at a WFN meeting, the results of which were presented to the City of Woodstock council. There was considerable support for the crow, said Skevington, along with mention of the Canada Goose, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, the Chimney Sweep and a vote for the lone Peregrine Falcon which resides atop a church steeple in downtown Woodstock.

One councillor suggested the Cowbird in an oblique reference to the Springbank Snow Countess statue/monument.

“But he was overruled,” said Skevington, who personally saw some argument for a ‘sexy’ if perhaps lesser-known option.

“But that wasn’t the general thinking,” she said. “We wanted to get people involved and birds they would recognize or have heard of seemed a better option.”

In the end, the American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee and Song Sparrow were selected as the three finalists, with the winner to be chosen via a public vote. Online voting is accessible through the website: https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/bird, or by the portal connected to a printable ballot at https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/media/2jqex1bv/woodstock-bird-voting-print-ballot.pdf) which can be dropped off at Woodstock City Hall. Voting closes Thursday, July 9, at 4 p.m.

All three finalist birds are year-round residents, the first described as featuring yellow colouring echoed in the Peanuts character ‘Woodstock’, the second regarded as one of the friendliest bird species, dovetailing nicely with ‘The Friendly City’, and the third’s name evoking a natural connection to music, potentially suggestive of the famous Woodstock music festival.

“I like them all,” said Skevington, a sentiment both echoed and amplified through an overall process she hopes will promote the public’s interest in birds along with recognizing and supporting their importance in our world.

“Just to get people talking and thinking about birds is big,” she concluded.