Canada Warbler
Credit: Jeff Nadler

Global trends have shown increasing numbers of species becoming at risk or endangered, and this year Ontario is no exception. A total of 10 species, including 6 Boreal birds, have been added to Ontario's list of species at risk, whereas only one, the Bigmouth Buffalo, has been removed. While each species have unique factors leading to their decline, habitat degradation and global warming are likely to be a major factor for many of them.

The six Boreal birds added this year are the Chimney Swift, the Whip-poor-will, the Common Nighthawk, the Olive-sided Flycatcher, the Canada Warbler, and the Horned Grebe.

Olive-sided Flycatcher
Credit: Jeff Nadler

Earlier this spring the Boreal Songbird Initiative estimated the population declines for the Canada Warbler and the Olive-sided Flycatcher, along with four other birds, and it's no surprise that both have been added to Ontario's list of species at risk. In recent decades, the Canada Warbler has witnessed an 80% overall decline and the Olive-sided Flycatcher has witnessed a 79% decline - only 7% of either of their habitats are currently under permanent protection.

Below I've posted some maps we developed alongside this research - the first is a map of anthropogenic (human activity) disturbance in Ontario, and the two subsequent maps are of industrial disturbances in each bird's Boreal-breeding range.

Anthropogenic Disturbances in Ontario

Canada Warbler's Boreal Range with Human Disturbance

Olive-sided Flycatcher's Boreal Range with Human Disturbance