BIRD SAVERS
Cans on poles a big help
Dale Gross thinks picking cans is for the birds.
Staff at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) decided to use tin cans to cap fence posts at the Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area, after birds were found dead inside the hollow posts.
“This is a more passive way of preventing (thousands) of birds from falling into every stinkin’ post, over time,” said Gross, manager of the Missouri Coteau natural area with the NCC.
The posts were installed to keep a herd of bison within the Old Man on His Back property — located about five hours southwest of Regina. Unfortunately, the fence posts are hollow. In effect, some birds — especially babies who aren’t strong enough to fly upwards — fall in, and are unable to get out.
According to the State of North America’s Birds report, one-third of the 1,154 species in North America are on a watch list. Birds are at risk of many threats including urbanization, habitat loss and climate change.
The NCC — well aware of the dwindling migratory bird situation — took action.
Gross and another co-worker went to the Emterra Waste Management and Recycling facility in Regina. They sifted through cans to find the appropriate size. After three hours, the two had collected 300 cans.
The correct tins have an opening about the size of a 19-ounce can of black beans.
“The recycling plant, I mean it was pretty stinky. But, it was worth it,” he said.
Birds support the environment by contributing to pollination, insect control and seed dispersal, among other things.
Gross said the project should save about 5,000 birds over a 10year period.
Although the project may help protect a portion of the bird population, some scientists believe it might not have a huge effect.
“If we can mitigate harm to the critters then we should do that,” said Kiel Drake, Saskatchewan program manager and scientist at Bird Studies Canada. “But, 5,000 birds over 10 years for almost any population, unless it’s a very, very small and endangered population, would be an effect that would be hard to see in a (population) analysis.”
Staff and volunteers capped about 300 posts last weekend; however, they still need more than 1,000 cans to finish the job.
Gross said they’re not currently accepting can donations, but he likes the idea of possibly teaming up with an outreach centre to collect cans after meals are made.