The National Bird Project

Canadian Geographic’s annual wildlife issue

The common loon is one of the birds in the running to be named winner of Canadian Geographic’s National Bird Project.

It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So we were delighted when the comic geniuses at CBC’S This Hour Has 22 Minutes created a series of mock political attack ads for birds campaigning to be named the country’s national bird in Canadian Geographic’s National Bird Project in February 2015, just a few short weeks after the initiative launched. The project’s aim was to solicit the Canadian public’s input on what their bird should be in honour of the nation’s 150th anniversary next year, and ideally to convince the federal government to officially adopt an avian symbol. Alas, despite the fact that the project generated more than 35,000 votes and 10,000-plus comments, the feds, thus far, have not heard the national bird call. So, in advance of the country’s sesquicentennial, Canadian Geographic will unilaterally declare a national bird in our upcoming annual wildlife issue. We’ll publish an essay on the people’s choice (based on our admittedly unscientific online poll), a discussion with a select group of the nation’s top bird biologists on their recommendations and finally, our rationale for the species Canadian Geographic will recognize as Canada’s national bird. Stay tuned, as it’s sure to get people squawking. Of course, there’s more in the issue, too, including Alanna Mitchell’s feature on the groundbreaking ocean microplastic research being done by Peter Ross, the ocean pollution science program director at the Vancouver Aquarium, a story on wolverines, profiles of seven iconic Canadian trees and Canadian Geographic’s annual wildlife photo competition winners.