Birds in Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill is proud to be a 'Bird Friendly City'! Our community has many unique natural features, including wetlands, kettle lakes and forests that make it a haven for wildlife. Thanks to our ongoing care and protection of our natural environment, more than 115 bird species call our community home.
Great Blue Heron soars to the top of 'Bird Friendly City' Bird Race
The votes are in and our community has chosen the Great Blue Heron to be Richmond Hill’s ‘Bird Friendly City’ bird! A total of 1,518 votes were cast with the Heron securing 456 or 30% of the vote. Here’s how the six-bird race played out:
Great Blue Heron (Zhashagi) - 456 votes |
Birds play an essential role in maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems in our communities, and the Great Blue Heron is a symbol of the natural heritage features that are found throughout Richmond Hill. Standing almost one metre tall and with a wingspan of up to two metres, the Great Blue Heron is the largest Heron in North America. It has greyish-blue feathers on its body, a white head with a black stripe on each side, a yellow-orange dagger-sharp beak, and a long neck and legs. Herons can be seen standing perfectly still or slowly wading into wetlands and ponds ready to snatch up a fish at places like Newberry Park, Richmond Green and Rumble Pond to name just a few. They breed locally in large congregations called ‘rookeries’, but fly south when the cold weather hits and water starts to freeze. Fun Facts*
*Source: allaboutbirds.org |
American Goldfinch (Aginjibagwesi) - 347 votes |
The cheerful yellow and shiny black feathers of the male American Goldfinch are a welcome sight for many, indicating the approach of warmer months. This little bird is the strictest of vegetarians, only unintentionally eating insects. As such, they are a common sight at bird feeders, munching happily on sunflower and nyjer seeds. In more natural settings, they enjoy milkweed and thistle seeds, which they feed their young and use for nest building. You may see American Goldfinches all year round throughout Richmond Hill, but they molt to an olive-brown colour in the winter. |
Red-winged Blackbird (Asiginaak) - 309 votes |
In the spring, the territorial male Red-winged Blackbird can be seen in marshes displaying a striking pose atop cattails with its bright red and yellow shoulders. They can have up to 15 female mates, which resemble a large sparrow. The Red-winged Blackbird symbolizes inner strength and a mastery of arts and justice. You may see them during migration in your backyard feeding on seeds and mixed grains, and during the breeding season they can be found throughout Richmond Hill in both upland and wetland habitats. |
Cedar Waxwing (Zegibanaanishiinh) - 229 votes |
The Cedar Waxwing is a black-masked bird with a yellowish belly and reddish spots on its wings that give it its name. They are most common during summer, but you may encounter them at any time of the year, as flocks wander around in search of berries and fruit. Cedar Waxwings are unique in that they’re one of the only bird species in southern Ontario that eat mostly fruit and berries, and they travel across the land in search of trees with fruit to eat. |
Bald Eagle (Migizi) - 139 votes |
Majestic, bold and beautiful…the Bald Eagle represents knowledge and higher learning and plays a spiritual role in passing on oral and traditional stories of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation people. Just last year, the Bald Eagle was removed from the list of at-risk species in Ontario, showcasing a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction. Look out for Bald Eagles in Richmond Hill during the spring and fall as they migrate further north to breed. An Eagle was just spotted at Lake Wilcox this past March- an exciting return for Richmond Hill residents! |
Sandhill Crane (Ajijaak) - 38 votes |
Tall, grey-bodied and crimson-capped, the Sandhill Crane can be found in open wetlands, grasslands and meadows across Canada. The crane signifies leadership and is one of the core totems of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation People. While you may not see a Sandhill Crane in flight, as they fly high in the sky, there is a good chance you will hear its pre-historic sounding call. Keep your ears attuned and your eyes open, as you may be able to observe the Sandhill Crane migrating through Richmond Hill in the spring and fall. |
Each bird was selected with input from City staff, our Richmond Hill bird team, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation. Aside from being birds you might see around the city’s thriving green spaces (or your own backyard!), these nominees represent Richmond Hill’s rich culture, diversity, and unique characteristics.
Anishinaabe translation for each bird provided by Hiawatha First Nation.
Thanks to everyone who participated!
About birds
Birds play an essential role in healthy ecosystems and resilient communities. However, over the past 50 years, North American bird populations have declined by more than 25% or 3 billion birds.
This decline is largely caused by human activities, through predation from our domestic cats and collisions with windows and cars. Birds are also affected by climate change, as changing temperatures affect timing and availability of food, as well as migration patterns.
Richmond Hill wants to help reduce these threats and be part of the solution!
What is the City doing to support and protect birds? |
Richmond Hill is taking the following actions to help reduce threats to bird populations and create more resilient ecosystems for birds and other wildlife to thrive.
Creating Bird-Safe Windows at Central LibraryHundreds of birds have been injured or killed in collisions with the reflective windows at Central Library. In order to reduce this threat, the City is undertaking a retrofit pilot project to install bird-safe window film in strategic locations, which will allow This pilot project will help to inform bird-safe design retrofits at other current and future City facilities. Monitoring Bird Window Collisions - Ongoing until October 31, 2024Monitoring bird window collisions before and after the retrofit will provide valuable information for future retrofit projects. How You Can HelpIf you notice a dead or injured bird outside Central Library, please notify a library staff member and they will take care of it. Bird-Safe Window Film InstallationDesign and installation of the bird-safe window film at Central Library will take place in spring 2025, pending Capital budget approval.
|
What can you do to support and protect birds? |
The community has a role to play in protecting birds and their habitat! You can help by:
See the drop down below or check out RichmondHill.ca/Parks for more parks to enjoy.
|
Birding in Richmond Hill | ||||||||||||
Birding is a fun, educational outdoor activity for people of all ages. The thrill of spotting a rare species or finally catching a glimpse of that hard to spot owl is a wonderful feeling. You may be able to find a few of the extraordinary birds listed below in their natural habitats the next time you visit a Richmond Hill park or trail, or maybe even in your own back yard. When you spot one, take a photo and share it with us on Instagram @myRichmondHill or use the hashtag #myRichmondHill for the chance to be featured on our page.
Residents are encouraged to admire wildlife from a safe distance and to not approach or touch them. It is also important not to feed birds and other wildlife as it can do more harm than good. Find out more on how to coexist with urban wildlife by visiting RichmondHill.ca/Wildlife. |
||||||||||||
Join Richmond Hill's Bird Team! | ||||||||||||
Through Nature Canada, recruitment is underway for the City of Richmond Hill Bird Team. The team’s mission is to protect birds by:
The Bird Team may consist of naturalist groups, birding clubs, environmental organizations, municipal staff, businesses, educational institutions, researchers and citizens. No skill level or birding experience is required to participate. Recruitment is open to all Richmond Hill residents. Interested? View the City of Richmond Hill Team Guide and email greeningthehill@richmondhill.ca to begin the process. |