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Delta to promote itself as birding hotspot during Ornithological Congress in Vancouver

Signs will highlight area as a world-class centre for birds and biodiversity
wood duck at reifel bird sanctuary
A wood duck drops by the Reifel Bird Sanctuary near Delta.

The City of Delta will try to highlight itself as a major conference of birders comes to the Lower Mainland.

Leading up to the International Ornithological Congress, which will be held in Vancouver from Aug. 19 to 27, city staff will utilize social media, electronic reader boards, temporary signage and street banners to promote Delta as a world-class centre for birds and biodiversity. The cost is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Delta won’t be able to put up any highway signage as requests take several months to go through the provincial Ministry of Transportation.

As far as a proposal for Delta to declare itself the “Bird and Raptor Capital of Canada,” an idea put forward by wildlife biologist Myles Lamont, a report to council notes increasing the awareness of Delta’s bird population at the local and national scale would benefit the city’s environmental stewardship goals as well as increase bird tourism. However, staff recommend this be done in a carefully thought out manner.

Council agreed to have staff work with Lamont, Tourism Delta and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for a long-term strategy.

bird captial
Local stewardship and science–based groups, such as the Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, support a proposal for Delta to be the Bird & Raptor Capital of Canada. - submitted

Council earlier this year approved a new Delta Birds and Biodiversity Conservation Strategy that includes supporting awareness campaigns.