Announcements
Boreal Birds Need Half - Campaign Launch
The Boreal Songbird Initiative has teamed up with Ducks Unlimited to launch a new campaign that seeks to protect at least half of North America's boreal forest for the billions of birds (325+ species) that breed in or rely on the forest. It also calls on industry officials to implement the highest sustainability standards on development projects in the remaining areas.
Additional bird and conservation organizations have endorsed this campaign, including the National Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada, Birdzilla, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Environment for the Americas, Nature Canada, Nature Needs Half, and Wild Bird Centers of America.
The campaign website can be found at:
www.borealbirdsneedhalf.org
Selected Media Coverage:
-Boreal birds need half the forest, Toronto Star, May 20, 2015.
-Boreal Forest - North America's Bird Nursery, BirdNote, April 13, 2015.
-Boreal bird plan should take wing, Calgary Herald, March 20, 2015.
-Conservation groups seek to protect North American boreal forests, Vancouver Sun, March 16, 2015.
-Birders, nature groups call for better boreal forest protection, Edmonton Journal, March 16, 2015.
-'Bird nursery' at risk unless half of Canada's boreal forest preserved, CBC News, March 16, 2015.
Expert Contact Information for Interviews
Dr. Jeff Wells
Science and Policy Director, Boreal Songbird Initiative
jeffwells@borealbirds.org
Cell: (207) 458-8492
Kevin Smith
National Manager Boreal Programs, Ducks Unlimited Canada
k_smith@ducks.ca
Bus: (780) 930-1262; Cell: (780) 952-4772
USFWS Video on Boreal Birds
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has created this great video about birds of the boreal forest coinciding with the launch of the Boreal Birds Need Half campaign:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has granted permission for television media outlets to use any clips from this video for b-roll in reporting on the Boreal Birds Need Half campaign.
Download this video » (211MB .MOV file - click on video and find download button above)
Photos for Media
The following photos are available for media covering the Boreal Birds Need Half campaign provided credit information is included (click to enlarge):
Maps & Stat Sidebars
The following maps and sidebar statistics are also available for use.
Map - Boreal Bird Migrations (click to enlarge or open as a layered PDF »):
Boreal By the Numbers (Download text as Word .doc to create your own):
For Canada (hectares): | For U.S. (acres): |
Sidebars (Download sidebar text as Word .doc to create your own):
Social and Sharing Resources
You are free to use or share any of the graphics below or copy/paste any of the following pre-drafted Tweets and Facebook posts help get the word out.
Facebook posts (copy/paste):
1:
Today, the Boreal Birds Need Half campaign launched. Audubon, Ducks Unlimited, and other top bird and conservation groups across North America have already endorsed it.
Why? It’s the critical breeding ground for billions of birds, and they need our help. As the largest unspoiled forest region on Earth, it’s one of the few places left we can still it right. Help us protect this forest and chirp up for boreal birds by signing the endorsement:
www.borealbirdsneedhalf.org
2:
Billions of migratory birds that breed in North America’s boreal forest need our help. Chirp up to protect their habitat by adding your name to the Boreal Birds Need Half endorsement:
www.borealbirdsneedhalf.org
Tweets (copy/paste):
Billions of birds need our help. #ChirpUp to protect their home in the boreal forest and sign the endorsement: borealbirdsneedhalf.org
Boreal forest one of the last places we can still get it right for our birds. #ChirpUp and sign the endorsement: borealbirdsneedhalf.org
New campaign wants to protect half of the boreal forest for billions of birds – #ChirpUp, sign the endorsement: borealbirdsneedhalf.org
3+ billion birds (325 species) breed in the North America’s boreal forest. #ChirpUp to help protect their home: borealbirdsneedhalf.org