Ruffling feathers

In the spring a rush of birds from around the world flock to Canada’s Arctic. The North provides nesting grounds for millions of birds that spend the short summer season breeding, nesting and raising their young. In the fall, most of these birds fly south to warmer climates, but several have adapted to make the Arctic their year-round home.

Close to a hundred species of shorebirds, land birds and seabirds travel north to breed each year. It’s the biodiversity of the area – the availability of food, water and habitat – that draws them. For chicks to hatch successfully, nesting sites need to provide substantial amounts of the fish, insects or plants that these birds rely upon for food. And these food sources have to be close to the birds’ nests – when parents are incubating eggs and taking care of chicks they can’t leave their nests for long.

Human development and pollution could prove to be devastating for Arctic birds. Many researchers are studying the effects on biodiversity and looking for solutions.

Learn more about birds, including those that live in the Arctic:

Hinterland Who’s Who - snowy owls, snow geese and more.

Parks Canada - "Exporting Whooping Cranes" article in Time for Nature

Download snowy owl wallpaper at the Canadian Wildlife Federation