In the midst of a boreal forest, Ethan Denton, a Calgary-based ornithologist currently working in Fort McMurray, Alberta, stands close to a series of nets. He carefully retrieves a dark-eyed junco, a small, dark grey songbird, from a cloth bag and proceeds to band it with a light aluminum band containing a unique identification number on its right leg using pliers. Denton meticulously notes its gender and measurements before setting the bird free, contributing to a broader understanding of its migration patterns by researchers across North America.
Ken Foster, a co-founder of the Wood Buffalo Wildlife Research Institute (WBWRI), observes Denton’s work with volunteers. The institute, established as a nonprofit organization in Fort McMurray, aims to conduct ongoing monitoring of bird populations in the oilsands region to identify declines and potential conservation strategies.
Research on birds in the oilsands region is not new, with various organizations like the Oil Sands Monitoring Program and the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute conducting long-term studies. Foster, along with his consulting company Owl Moon Environmental Inc. (OMEI), has been involved in extensive research and, in 2024, established WBWRI with his wife, Christine Godwin, to ensure continuity in wildlife research and engage volunteers in citizen science efforts.
Data collected by Foster through OMEI indicates varying responses of bird species to changes in the oilsands region. Some songbird species, such as the least flycatcher and northern waterthrush, have experienced population declines of up to 90% in the last 15 years due to habitat alterations from wildfires, industrial activities, and changes in migration routes. Conversely, adaptable ground feeders like clay-coloured sparrows are thriving in disturbed habitats reclaimed from former oilsands sites or regenerated areas of the boreal forest.
Collaboration with energy companies has been positive for Foster’s research, aiming to enhance outreach and educational opportunities through WBWRI projects. Local studies, like Foster’s, are crucial, as they provide insights into changes specific to regions like Fort McMurray and along migration routes, complementing national databases to inform conservation efforts and policy decisions.
Beyond bird banding initiatives, WBWRI is expanding its endeavors to track animals with radio transmitters through an automated tracking tower as part of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. Plans also include monitoring bat populations’ health and training volunteers for wildlife rehabilitation in the Fort McMurray area to address environmental challenges and engage the community effectively.
Foster emphasizes the value of programs like WBWRI in quantifying environmental changes that resonate with the shared concern about declining bird populations, fostering a collective effort towards conservation and preservation of wildlife habitats.