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International Migratory Bird Day is May 13: Celebrate!
New! Boreal E-Cards Feature Birds and Landscapes
 Trek Across the Americas with a Virtual Field Trip on May 25

Touting this year's theme of North America's Boreal Forest, International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated across the U.S. and Canada. Zoos, nature centers, parks, and more are hosting events – throughout the month of May and beyond – to encourage conservation and increase awareness of the Boreal Forest's importance to migratory birds. Grab family and friends and celebrate at an event near you!

Learn more & find an event in your area >

Step aside, Hallmark; the Boreal Songbird Initiative is here! For nature lovers everywhere, we've created our own set of free e-cards. Choose from eight beautiful Boreal e-cards, which feature Boreal landscapes and of course various species of birds that rely on the Boreal Forest, along with statistics regarding the percentage of each species that relies on the Boreal Forest.

Send Boreal e-cards to your friends >

Who wants to go on a field trip that tracks the migration of Boreal Birds through Ecuador, Mexico, the United States, and Canada? We sure do! Thousands of children across the Americas, plus teachers and parents, will take part in the Americas' Bird Trek. Thanks to online streaming audio/video technologies, these virtual trekkers will be introduced to the sights and sounds of birds by naturalists in each destination.

Participate in the Americas Bird Trek >

New Report Identifies Environmental Fallout of Producing Oil from Alberta's Tar Sands

A recent report by the Pembina Institute examines a grave threat facing the Boreal Forest: the tar sands of Alberta, Canada. The largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions growth in Canada, tar sands projects have dire implications for planet-wide climate change. The Boreal Songbird Initiative is combining efforts with other conservation groups to temper this egregious form of development.

Tar sands consist of a thick oil called bitumen mixed with sand, clay, and water. Production involves either open pit strip-mining or underground steam injection, requiring massive amounts of natural gas for processing. Tar sands oil processing is astonishingly inefficient and wasteful: two tons of tar sands return a single barrel of oil – the equivalent of two SUV fill-ups.

Alberta's tar sands have generated great interest in the U.S., which imports more oil and gas from Canada than from any other source. According to the CBC, the oil industry admits it will destroy a large section of the Boreal Forest, which is the largest terrestrial storehouse of carbon on the planet.

Read Pembina's report >

Photo: The Pembina Institute

On Borealbirds.org this month:
Get a free International Migratory Bird Day t-shirt with a $25 donation to BSI, and a free bag of Boreal Blend coffee with a $50 donation. Thanks for your support!


Working Together: 14 Diverse Organizations Pledge Support for the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework

What do binocular companies, outdoor gear shops, creators of custom birdseed, niche publishers, specialized coffee roasters, and big-name nature groups have in common? In the past month, thirteen organizations spanning these specialties have elected to become Supporters of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework. In addition, Nature Canada has come on board at the accelerated level of Signatory, pledging direct action in the Boreal Forest.

The Framework's goal is to protect 50% of Canada's Boreal Forest Region, which spans 1.4 million acres, and support sustainable practices in the remaining landscape. By publicly aligning themselves with the Framework, these groups have committed to doing their part to make this vision a reality. A big thank you to each of these dedicated organizations!

Find out more about the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework >

Please contact us at info@borealbirds.org or Boreal Songbird Initiative, 1601 2nd Ave., Ste. 615 Seattle, WA 98101

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Boreal Songbird Initiative Newsletter, May 2006, Volume 0013