Van BirdCity is a program for supporting and celebrating birds in the City of Vancouver. The program is based on Vancouver’s Bird Landscape, a model that has been adapted from other cities’ existing programs to illustrate the connections amongst bird-related activities in the city. Van BirdCity focuses on birds because they are visible markers of the health of ecosystems, and bird-watching is, in fact, the second most popular pastime in North America. Highlighting birds and bird-related activities will encourage citizens to enjoy both natural and urban environments throughout the year.

The objective of Van BirdCity is to increase awareness about the importance of birds in Vancouver by advocating habitat protection for all plants and animals; reducing hazards like domestic animals, invasive species and detrimental human activities; and by highlighting opportunities for education, programs and events for the City. The ten most important opportunities to make the city more bird-friendly were identified by engaging with stakeholders and exploring gaps in Vancouver’s Bird Landscape.