I thought I knew my local park like the back of my hand, until a field trip opened my eyes to a hidden world of birds. Here’s how a single duck changed everything.
I enrolled in an ornithology course in university because it sounded interesting – a class all about birds! I had no idea that it would completely change the way I see the world.
Early on, we took a field trip to a local park – one I already knew well. I lived nearby, visited frequently and figured I’d already seen it all. As far as I was concerned, the pond was home to mallards and not much else.
But when our group stopped to look at the pond, and really looked, we managed to identify seven different species! Seven. I was stunned. How had I visited this park so many times without noticing them before?
This was the moment that changed everything. And the bird that did it for me? The American Wigeon – the first duck that I ever identified on my own. My spark bird.
An American Wigeon, my spark bird. Click to hear their cute call – they sound like a squeaky toy!
From that moment on, birds started creeping into my everyday life and I quickly became a self-proclaimed "bird nerd".
I started incorporating birds into my embroidery and beading. My absolute favourite board game became Wingspan, a bird-themed game of course. I even have a tattoo of a black-billed magpie – a bird common to western Canada that some people find noisy and annoying, but to me, they’re clever, beautiful and always remind me of home. As a member of Syilx Nation, I’ve always felt connected to the land and the animals we share it with, and birds have become an even deeper part of that connection.
Now, I am that friend who gets blurry bird photos sent to me with the question, “who is this bird?” And honestly, I love it. Seeing other people get curious about birds makes me feel like I’m passing on the wonder that first hit me with an American Wigeon.
That one course didn’t just shape my personal love of birds – it has influenced my career.
My early work involved supporting wildlife rehabilitation, where I witnessed firsthand the impact of human activities on birds. Around 70% of the patients the facility treated were birds, most injured from hitting windows or being caught by outdoor cats or dogs. I spent a lot of time educating people on how to prevent these accidents – because small changes, like adding decals to windows, can save countless lives.
Now, working in wildlife protection, I focus on another major threat to birds: the wildlife and exotic pet trade.
Did you know that the most common reason birds are imported into Canada is for the pet trade?
As a bird lover, I understand the draw – they are intelligent and beautiful, and some species can even mimic human speech! But sadly, the reality is that birds are poorly suited for captivity. Most pet birds were either captured from the wild or bred in conditions that fail to meet their complex needs.
The very thing that defines them – flight – is often taken away as their wings are clipped and they are contained to a cage. Many bird species form deep social bonds in the wild. So, when they are kept alone in cages, they can experience extreme stress, leading to detrimental behaviours like feather-plucking, self-mutilation and depression.
Birds bond deeply (imprint) with their caregivers and can live for decades, often outliving their original owners. Many are surrendered or rehomed multiple times, while others are abandoned when the reality of their care becomes overwhelming.
A caged bird will never know the life they were meant to have. Birds deserve to fly free, just as nature intended.
For me, loving birds goes beyond admiration – it’s a responsibility. Whether it's making our homes safer for migrating flocks, keeping pet birds out of the wildlife trade or simply helping someone notice the diversity in their local park, protecting birds is part of protecting the world we share.
So today, on International Bird Day, I challenge you: get outside and visit your local park. I promise that if you take a moment to really look and listen, you will see the true richness of biodiversity around you. And maybe, just maybe, you will find your own spark bird. ✨
And if you ever see someone out with binoculars, rain or shine (or even snow), geeking out over a wigeon’s wheezy call – that’s probably me. And if you ever want to talk birds, I’m always happy to chat!
🦆