We are proud to join with others around the globe in recognizing World Migratory Bird Day which is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.

Since the very beginning, our company has been committed to sustainability in our forests, wetlands and natural environment. We recognize that vibrant bird populations are critical to sustainable ecosystems. That is why we have voluntarily set aside over 16,000 ha (39,353 ac) of bird habitat in the Irving Woodlands conservation program to protect and preserve critical feeding areas and nesting sites for migratory birds.

We also created the Irving Nature Park and La Dune de Bouctouche, two important migratory bird destinations. Since 1974, the Canadian Wildlife Service has conducted shorebird surveys in Atlantic Canada during the spring and fall migration months. The Bouctouche Dune is one of these sites, where censuses have been done for 24 years and it is also an Important Birds Area (IBA). The piping plover, the red knot, and the least sandpiper all stop at this delicate ecosystem to eat and breed.

The Irving Nature Park has a variety of wetland types including a 200+ acre salt marsh, a small freshwater wetland within the Children’s Forest and good-sized forested wetland on the island that is featured in the Frog Trail. The size, diversity of plants and protection under its park status make it a great place for waterfowl to seek refuge, feed and rest. Over two dozen species of ducks (diving and dabbling) as well as a large variety of shorebirds and long-legged waders such as great blue heron and snowy egrets are often found within this wetland.  Semi-palmated plovers, least sandpipers, and semi-palmated sandpipers all make annual stops on the Irving Nature Park’s mudflats. The Saint John Naturalist’s Club and Nature NB have partnered with the Park to provide Shorebird Walk and Talks to teach the public about this important bird stopover and how to identify different species.

In addition to conservation efforts, our company is dedicated to advancing research on the long-term health of bird populations. To that end, we have partnered with scientists at Natural Resources Canada, Carleton University, and the Canadian Wildlife Service on a songbird habitat research project. The goal is to assess songbird species and habitat preferences in the Black Brook Woodlands area of New Brunswick.

All of these conservation and research measures are being undertaken to support bird populations and better understand the threats to birds so that we can take steps to protect these beautiful and important animals.