Bird Friendly Calgary is volunteer organization located in Calgary, Alberta focused on the protection of birds and other urban biodiversity.
History The Calgary Bird Team was established in November, 2020 by members of local environmental groups, the City of Calgary, and interested citizens.
Calgary was first certified as a bird friendly city in 2021 by Nature Canada's Bird Friendly City initiative.
In April 2022 Bird Friendly Calgary partnered with Nature Canada and the City of Calgary to hold a vote to choose an official city bird. The winner was announced in May on World Migratory Bird Day and officially recognized in June, which was the black-capped chickadee. The vote was held to promote Calgary's certification as a bird safe city the previous year.
In 2025 the organization began its Lights Out for Birds campaign which encourages city residents to turn off their lights from 11pm-6am during spring and fall bird migration.
In November 2025 Calgary became the first city to be certified as "bird friendly" three times.
Programs
City Bird Vote In April 2022 Bird Friendly Calgary partnered with Nature Canada and the City of Calgary to hold a vote to choose an official city bird. The winner was announced in May and officially recognized in June, which was the black-capped chickadee.
Lights Out for Birds Campaign The group has worked to educate high-rise dwellers and downtown workers about light pollution's impact on birds and bird-building collisions. They also started a campaign to encourage city residents to turn off their lights from 11pm-6am during migratory periods.
Partners Organizations that Bird Friendly Calgary has partnered with include Nature Canada, Nature Calgary, Calgary Urban Species Response Team, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Calgary Centre, and the City of Calgary.
References