City of Kingston receives Bird-Friendly City certification
The City of Kingston is proud to announce it has received an entry-level Bird-Friendly City certification from Nature Canada.
"This certification reflects our community’s commitment to protecting birds, giving them a safe space to flourish, and enhancing local biodiversity in Kingston,” says Karen Santucci, Director of Public Works and Solid Waste, City of Kingston.
To obtain a Bird-Friendly City status, a municipality must earn points across three categories of criteria: threat reduction, habitat protection, restoration and climate resilience, and community reach and education. Certification is awarded at one of three levels – entry, intermediate or high – based on the lowest score achieved among the categories.
Kingston’s application received strong marks, with both the habitat protection, restoration and climate resilience and community reach and education categories being only one mark shy of the high level of certification.
To support the application, the City established a Bird Team, comprised of community groups, environmental organizations, Indigenous representatives and local post-secondary institutions to collaborate on making Kingston bird-safe. In addition, the City is supporting annual wild bird events and is currently collaborating with an industrial partner to install purple martin housing.
Kingston also launched a Name our City Bird competition, which ended in a shocking result as residents decided two birds – the cardinal and the crow – represented Kingston the best.
“We have numerous programs and activities on the go that make our city bird-friendly. In fact, Kingston’s application was close to being an intermediate certification,” says Santucci. “With our continued effort and collaboration, we look forward to setting new targets and advancing our status, making an even more meaningful impact for our feathered friends.”
Learn more about the City’s Bird-Friendly City activities and how to make your home a bird-friendly space at CityofKingston.ca/BirdFriendly.
Contact Us
City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
