Calgary Earns Bird-Friendly City Designation for Third Time

Nature Canada has announced that Calgary has earned the Bird-Friendly City designation for the third consecutive year, making it the first Canadian city to achieve the designation three times.

Calgary’s Bird-Friendly City Certification Overview
Calgary first earned the designation in 2021.
In 2023, it was recertified at the Intermediate level.
And now, in 2025, it has earned the same level of certification for the third time.

“This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort between city council, city staff and the people of Calgary. However, there is still much work to be done to further protect birds and the environment,” Bird Friendly Calgary said in a statement.

Why is Bird-Friendly City Certification important?
Nature Canada awards the designation to cities that:

Provide safe habitats for birds
Plan to reduce threats such as bird strikes on glass and buildings
Take year-round steps to protect birds and their life cycles
The organization says the health of an area’s bird population is often a reflection of the overall health of the ecosystem and even the quality of human life.

Bird Friendly Calgary’s message
The statement reads:

“Receiving this designation demonstrates that the city, its staff and its citizens are committed to creating a healthy environment for all creatures—both humans and birds.”

The achievement, the group said, reflects the city’s continued efforts to protect the environment, manage urban lighting, reduce light pollution and preserve natural spaces.