Boreal Birds: Sounds of the Seal River Watershed – Feb 11th, 12 – 1 PM (CT)
February 11 2022
The Seal River Watershed—currently being proposed as an Indigenous Protected Area—is a vast and vibrant landscape encompassing 50,000 km2 (12 million acres) of northern Manitoba. It is one of the last great wild places on our planet. Caribou and polar bears roam beneath massive flocks of birds near an estuary teeming with beluga whales.
In a unique collaboration between the Seal River Watershed Alliance and the National Audubon Society, Indigenous knowledge and expertise are being combined with new sound recording and analyses technology to learn more about the birds of the Seal River Watershed.
Indigenous Elders and youth are deploying automated sound recording units across the land to capture early morning and evening summer soundscapes. These sound recordings are then being analyzed at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify the bird species.
Join us for a CPAWS webinar with the National Audubon Society and Seal River Watershed Alliance to learn why the bird song project was started, what has been discovered so far, and how the data is being used to help build the baseline biodiversity inventory for the watershed and aid the Seal River Watershed Alliance’s work in conserving this special and globally unique area.
About the Speakers
Jeff Wells is the Vice President for Boreal Conservation, leading National Audubon’s work to protect the Boreal Forest, more than one billion acres of northern forests, wetlands, lakes, and rivers that spans from the interior of Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland. He guides Audubon’s team efforts on Boreal-focused applied science and strategic communications to leverage public support for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and Indigenous Guardians programs across the Boreal Forest biome.
Through this work, some of the largest new land protections in modern history are taking place supporting billions of nesting birds. Jeff’s current role is a return to Audubon, where previously he had served as National Bird Conservation Director and, before that, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon New York.
Stephanie Thorassie is a member of Sayisi Dene First Nation and the Executive Director of the Seal River Watershed Alliance. Sayisi Dene First Nation is leading an initiative to conserve the entire Seal River Watershed as an Indigenous Protected Area. It is working in partnership with its Dene, Cree and Inuit neighbours.
How Can We Help?
If you have any questions or require any additional accommodations to participate, please email us at [email protected].
About CPAWS Manitoba
CPAWS Manitoba has been instrumental in establishing 22 new parks and protected areas in our province. That’s an area larger than Lake Winnipeg at nearly 26,000 square kilometres. Our goal is to protect half of Manitoba’s lands and waters.
Lunch and Learns
Nature has been here for us during the pandemic.
CPAWS Manitoba wants to maintain this positive connection to nature by providing a space for Manitobans to connect online from the safety of our homes and be inspired by nature in our backyards and beyond.
Join CPAWS Manitoba for weekly lunch and learn presentations from experts across the province who will share their knowledge and passion and bring new nature-inspired activities into our lives.
This program is possible thanks to the generous support of The Winnipeg Foundation and the Conservation Trust, a Manitoba Climate and Green Plan Initiative delivered by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation.