Is the sky falling? Probably not, but the birds that spend their time up there are certainly telling us something is wrong. Swallows, swifts, and nightjars are "aerial insectivores" - birds that specialize on eating flying insects. They spend most of their time flying overhead. Over the last 40 years, aerial insectivores have undergone steeper declines than any other group of birds in Canada.
These birds will only recover if they are valued as an integral part of our neighbourhoods and ecosystems. Across the country, Bird Studies Canada is engaging communities in monitoring, stewardship, and conservation for aerial insectivores. Our biologists are also playing a key role in drafting strategies to identify priorities and direct future action for these species.
Through our national web portal, you can help threatened birds by contributing to aerial insectivore research and conservation.
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This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été réalisé avec l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.