Montreal Botanical Garden launches bird conservation initiative backed by major donation

A bird sits on a tree branch in Montreal (Heru Vision / pexels.com)

Birdwatchers in Montreal have a new reason to visit the Botanical Garden this spring, and for years to come.

Espace pour la vie has announced Un Jardin pour les oiseaux (A Garden for Birds), a long-term initiative dedicated to bird discovery, education, and conservation at the Botanical Garden.

With more than 200 bird species observed on its grounds, the Botanical Garden is already considered one of the best urban birdwatching destinations in the city.

The new initiative aims to build on that reputation, adding public resources for species identification, guided tours, educational programming, and citizen science projects.

“Birds are very popular with visitors to the Botanical Garden. By making this commitment today, we hope to better showcase the bird species that find refuge here and continue the actions that contribute to their protection,” said Josée Bellemare, director of the Botanical Garden.

It’s starting right away, just in time for migrating birds to return to the city.

Every Saturday and Sunday in April, the garden will host birdwatching walks, birds of prey presentations, and a watercolour workshop inspired by local species as part of its spring programming.

The program was made possible through a significant private donation from Mark Zoccolillo, given through the Fondation Espace pour la vie.

In a City of Montreal news release issued Thursday, Zoccolillo said birds represent something accessible that many people overlook.

“We often travel far to escape our daily concerns, but with birds, you only need to step outside your front door to feel the same thing,” he said. “Their beauty and songs connect us directly to the natural world, reminding us that we, too, are creatures of nature.”

The Botanical Garden, he added, “is an ideal place to bring the public closer to this remarkable wildlife and contribute to its conservation. ”