Photo: Bailey Hendry

Land Acknowledgement

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.

Learn More

Join the Christmas Bird Count with the UM Indigenous Birding Club!

Join us on Sunday, December 15, 2024, from 8 am to 3 pm (various shifts are available) for the Christmas Bird Count at the University of Manitoba—an exciting opportunity to connect with nature, meet new friends, and make a real impact on bird conservation!

The Christmas Bird Count is longest-running citizen science project in the world! What started as an alternative to traditional holiday hunting has become a powerful tool for understanding bird populations and tracking their changes over time. By participating, you’ll contribute to a legacy of bird conservation across Turtle Island.

We’ll be counting birds on campus and at King’s Park, so participants should be prepared for some walking. Please note that the survey involves covering quite a bit of ground, and accessibility needs can be accommodated—reach out to us in advance so we can ensure everyone can take part.

This event is open to all UM students, staff, faculty, and alumni, regardless of your birding experience. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a first-time birder, you’re welcome here!

Lunch, coffee, and some awesome incentives are included for those who join multiple shifts!

RSVP to join! Link in our linktree.

Photo Descriptions:
Photo 1. A White-breasted Nuthatch crawling down the trunk of a tree. Text on photo: “Tis the season for the Christmas Bird Count. RSVP to be part of the Christmas Bird Count with the UM Indigenous Birding Club. Sunday, December 15, 8 AM - 3 PM. Let’s celebrate our feathered relatives together this holiday season.”
Photo 2: Group photo of participants from the 2023 CBC with UMIBC.
Photo 3: Group photo of participants from the 2024 CBC with UMIBC.

📷: @justinleerasmussen

#UMIBC #ChristmasBirdCount #Community #RepresentationMatters #BirdingForConservation #CitizenScience #UManitoba #IndigenousKnowledge #NatureConnection #MakeADifference #Birds #BirdJoy #Indigenous

It was an honour to walk with the wonderful folks from the Student Counselling Centre. I hope the time we spent together in nature provided some peace and solace as they continue their important work of supporting the mental health of UM students. We saw few species, but those we saw were amazing. The highlights included the amazing looks at a Downy Woodpecker by the river (first photo) and the flock of Common Grackles that flew above us on our walk back to campus. BIPOC folks and allies coming together for a little bit of bird joy and community.

#representationmatters #indigenous #firstnations #metis #inuit #weouthere #umanitoba #manitoba #birders #birding #birdjoy @umanitoba @umisacouncil
@umstudentcounsellingcentre

It was a true joy to be out in nature with such a wonderful group of birders. We walked in the wind and watched Migizii (a Bald Eagle) dance in the sky. We saw many American Robins heading south and enjoyed the graceful flight of Franklin’s and Ring-billed Gulls above us.

We even attempted the UM ‘horns up! 🤘🏽’ trend which we saw in @chancellormahon ‘s last post! (See photo 3). How did we do?

This was our last birding walk of the season, as we’ll take a break in October. We’re looking forward to spending time with all of you again in November!

If you need binoculars, we added a few pairs to borrow in the library. They’re located in the Science Reserves kiosk (the big blue cabinet) in the Armes Link building—just bring your student card.

October holds many beautiful birding moments, so I encourage you to get out there and get some of that bird joy when you need it.

Stay connected with us on Instagram for updates on future events!

@umanitoba @umindigenous @umisacouncil #representationmatters #birding #nature #birds #birdjoy #indigenousbirders #bipocbirders #redrivermetis #firstnation #treaty1 #allies #nationalhomelandofthemetispeople

Fall migration is underway, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. This is our LAST BIRDING WALK before we take a break in October. But don’t’ worry, we will be back together in November as we have some wonderful things planned for the Winter starting in November.

If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! Come get your weekly bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water. Folks that join our walks are also free to leave the walk anytime, so you can really customize the length of the walk to your needs.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: An American Goldfinch. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, August 15, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

It was fitting and wonderful to see a male American Goldfinch changing from its bright yellow summer feathers to its green winter ones on our second last weekly birding walk of 2024. It reminded us of March, when we started these walks and saw the same transformation in the reverse. We also witnessed so many Northern Flickers (yellow-shafted) passing through on their way south for the Winter. We also spotted three warbler species: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Nashville Warbler, and American Redstart!!!

Our last weekly walk is on September 26! Where should we go for our last weekly birding walk of 2024? Add your thoughts in the comments below. 👇

I want to acknowledge the UMIBC community and how much I’ve enjoyed our time birding together. UMIBC is all of us. With our last weekly walk coming up next week, I know I’ll miss everyone. I’m proud of how we’re making strides in representation in the outdoors, STEM, and birding. After next week, we’ll take a break in October, but we’ll be back in November with winter programming to keep the bird joy going all year round!

Did someone say Snowy Owl safari?? 🦉🦉🦉

📷: @justinleerasmussen

@umanitoba @umindigenous @umisacouncil #representationmatters #community #birdjoy #indigenous #birding #umindigenousbirdingclub

Photo descriptions:
Photo 1: Group photo of UMIBC birders on a bridge posing with binoculars.
Photo 2: American Goldfinch undergoing molt.
Photo 3: Hairy Woodpecker on a tree.
Photo 4: Northern Flicker foraging in grass.
Photo 5: Monarch Butterfly
Photo 6: A dark-coloured cat peering through some long grass.
Photo 7: A white-tailed deer doe standing by a tree.
Photo 8: Mushrooms growing out of a tree.
Photo 9: Group photo of UMIBC birders on a bridge.

There are only 2 walks left until we take a break in October. Fall migration is underway, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! Come get your weekly bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water. Folks that join our walks are also free to leave the walk anytime, so you can really customize the length of the walk to your needs.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: A Swamp Sparrow. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, August 15, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

Maarsii to Eva Wasney and Mikaela Mackenzie from the @winnipegfreepress, for joining our walk and sharing our story in today’s article, “Bird is the Word.” A big shoutout to all the dedicated UMIBC birders who came out for the walk, even after the reschedule due to rain. #weouthere.

It’s awesome to be highlighted with such incredible birders as Alison Conrad (@birdnerdwpg) and the legendary Rudolph Koes!

🔗 Check out the complete article via the link in our bio, in the linktree.

Yesterday’s walk was an adventure! We set out into the unknown, unsure of what we’d encounter, but experienced it all together and returned feeling calm, happy, and re-energized. We spotted some incredible birds, including mature and immature Bald Eagles, Broad-winged Hawks, and Palm Warblers. It was a privilege to share this experience with you in nature. #weouthere

Palm Warblers (photos 3 & 4) are larger than most warblers and resemble pipits. They have longer tails and legs than most warblers and are known for their constant tail-wagging. Despite their name, they breed farther north than most warblers, with only the Blackpoll Warbler breeding farther north.

We have two more walks scheduled before we take a break for the month of October, but we will be back with more birding and bird related fun and adventures in November.

Upcoming walks: Sep. 19, Sep. 26

Photo descriptions:
Photo 1: A group of 17 birders.
Photo 2: A group of 17 birders with the UM Fort Garry Campus off in the distance behind them.
Photo 3: A Palm Warbler perching on a fence. It is in its fall plumage.
Photo 4: A Palm Warbler perching on a wire. It is in its fall plumage.
Photo 5: A group of 17 birders.

📷 1,2,5: MK
📷 3,4: @justinleerasmussen

#palmwarbler #indigenous #indigenousbirding #representationmatters #umanitoba
@umindigenous @umanitoba @umisacouncil @um_metis

Maarsii to everyone that joined us at the UM Indigenous Birding Club table at Indigenous Orientation today!!! It was so nice to meet so many people interested in birding, representation in birding, being in community and being in nature! Of course we are absolutely honoured to have received a visit from Nadia the Great Grey Owl from @prairie_wildlife_rehab_centre. Definitely follow them and look them up. They do amazing work such as educating the public about wildlife and helping injured wildlife.

#community #representationmatters #indigenous #umanitoba #birdjoy #nature #wellness

There are only 3 walks left until we take a break in October. Fall migration is underway, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! Come get your weekly bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water. Folks that join our walks are also free to leave the walk anytime, so you can really customize the length of the walk to your needs.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: A Gray Catbird. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, August 15, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

Bird joy was had on the UMIBC birding walk this week. We were a group of 16 BIPOC birders and allies, and we spotted 22 species!!! Highlights were a group of five Northern Flickers foraging in the grass, a Tennessee Warbler, a Nashville Warbler, and a Merlin preening itself after a light rain. Witnessing and paying attention to these magnificent birds as well as being in community was energizing and calming all at the same time. Miigwech to all the UMIBC birders that joined us. We are community!

We only have three more walks left before we take a break in October. Sep 12, 19 and 26! I hope you can join us!

📷: @justinleerasmussen, Northern Flicker taken at UM Fort Garry campus on April 14, 2024. I included it in this post to illustrate that we spotted Northern Flickers on our walk.

@umindigenous @umanitoba @umisacouncil
#representationmatters #birding #birdjoy #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #umanitoba #nature #wellness

Have you ever seen a live Great Gray Owl? Now’s your chance! Visit the UM Indigenous Birding Club table at Indigenous Orientation on Wednesday, September 11, from 1 pm to 2 pm to meet Nadia the Great Gray Owl from @prairie_wildlife_rehab_centre. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this magnificent bird up close and learn about the great work of the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization. Make sure to follow @prairie_wildlife_rehab_centre.

Plus, from 11 am to 1 pm, stop by to test your skills with our virtual bird ID game for a chance to win some prizes!

Here are a few interesting facts about Gray Gray Owls to get you ready for your visit with Nadia!

The Great Gray Owl is the longest owl species in the world, with adults reaching up to 84 cm (33 inches) in length.

Despite their size, they are relatively lightweight compared to other large owls, weighing only about 2.5 pounds.

Their primary habitat includes the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia.

These owls can plunge into the snow to catch prey. They use their powerful talons to break through crusted snow and grab small rodents like voles, which make up most of their diet.

@umindigenous @umanitoba @umisacouncil

📷: @prairie_wildlife_rehab_centre

Fall migration is underway, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! Come get your weekly bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water. Folks that join our walks are also free to leave the walk anytime, so you can really customize the length of the walk to your needs.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: Yellow Warbler perched on reeds with a gray background. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, August 15, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

We left the rain behind yesterday and enjoyed nothing but sunshine for birding on this beautiful Friday! A great big maarsii to everyone that joined today. Also a huge maarsii to the @winnipegfreepress for walking with us! Fall migration is in full swing, with plenty of bird activity to prove it. It was particularly fascinating to see an American Robin “sunning” itself (see photo 3). Evidence suggests this behavior likely helps the bird get rid of ectoparasites. A link to our eBird list for the walk can be found in our bio!

We have four walks left until we take a break in October! We hope to see you on an upcoming walk!

@umindigenous @umanitoba

Photo 1&2: MK
Photo 3&4: @justinleerasmussen

Photo descriptions:
Photo 1 & 2: Photos of 7 of the 9 birders on the walk posing near Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge
Photo 3: An American Robin sunning itself.
Photo 4: A Cedar Waxing seen on the walk.

#birdjoy #indigenousbirders #metisbirders #firstnationbirders #birding #representationmatters #WeOutHere #umindigenousbirdingclub #birds #mentalhealth

So exciting to see warblers migrating through King’s Park today!

Blackpoll Warblers (photos 1 & 2) have changed significantly since their spring passage, while Black-and-White Warblers (photos 3, 4, & 5) appear almost identical to how they looked in the spring.

@umanitoba @umindigenous

#metisbirder #birdjoy #representationmatters #naturetherapy #warblers #fallmigration

📷: @justinleerasmussen

Rescheduled to Friday, August 30 at 11:30 am. Fall migration is underway for some species, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! Come get your weekly bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water. Folks that join our walks are also free to leave the walk anytime, so you can really customize the length of the walk to your needs.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: Gray-cheeked Thrush. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, August 15, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

Despite an early morning thunderstorm, the weather cleared enough to give us an opportunity to get out and find some bird joy! We took a walk to King’s Park and spotted several birds. The bird feeding station was particularly busy allowing us to get great looks at quite a few species. And, standing by the river enjoying nature with so many great people was energizing and relaxing all at the same time. Maarsii! Chi-Miigwech to all the UMIBC birders that joined the walk.

There are only 5 more UMIBC birding walks left this fall as we will be winding things down on September 26.

If you’ve been saving your walks to earn a t-shirt or hoodie, please let me know. These items are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but I can reserve a size for you if you’re nearing 3 or 6 walks.

Hope to see you next week!

#weouthere #representstionmatters #birdjoy #treatyone #homelandoftheredrivermétis @umindigenous @umanitoba

After having to cancel our last two walks because of rain, we are hoping for better weather and excited to finally get out and find some birds this Thursday! 🤞🤞

Fall migration is underway for some species, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! Come get your weekly dose of bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water. Folks that join our walks are also free to leave the walk anytime, so you can really customize the length of the walk to your needs.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: Virginia Rail. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, August 15, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

Update- Today’s (Aug 15) birding walk is cancelled due to the weather. Fingers crossed for better weather next week.

After being rained out at the last minute last week and missing our scheduled walk the week before, we’re excited to finally get out and find some birds this Thursday!

Fall migration is underway for some species, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! Come get your weekly dose of bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water. Folks that join our walks are also free to leave the walk anytime, so you can really customize the length of the walk to your needs.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: A Connecticut Warbler taking a rest under some leaves. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, August 15, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

Unfortunately, it began raining just before we were set to start our birding walk today. Despite the weather, a remarkable number of dedicated individuals still came out. You are awesome. While the heavy rain made birding impractical, it provided an opportunity to share some great bird stories. I apologize sincerely for the late cancellation and I am truly impressed by the turnout despite the rain. I LOVE the UMIBC community!

We will try again next week if you can make it. Thursday. 11:30 am. Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge. We return to the statue by 1:00 pm but everyone is welcome to stay as long as they want (in case you need to leave early).

#indigenous @umindigenous #homelandofthemétisnation #treatyone #birding #community #birdjoy #representationmatters #badweather

Fall migration is underway for some species, so it is an exciting time of the year for birding! We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! We are here for all of the baby birders (@wiscobirder) that want to try out or learn how to take up birding. We are a community where it is safe to make mistakes while learning. Come get your weekly dose of bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: A lone Pied-billed Grebe swimming in a marsh. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, July 18, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

There will be no UMIBC birding walk this week as I will be away. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Please feel free to reach out via DM or email if you have any questions.

The next walk will be on August 8.

If you want to try out birding on your own this week, we now have binoculars in the library you can borrow! They are in the Science Reserve Kiosk (located just outside the doors to the Jim Peebles Science & Technology Library in Machray Hall) and can be borrowed for up to four days. All you need is your student or staff card, or your 14-digit number. We also just added a few resources on our website to help you get started on your birding journey, including links to the binoculars in the library catalogue so you can check availability before trekking to Machray Hall.

Please share your experience with us by tagging @umindigenousbirdingclub. We would love to share your stories in nature and show the world that #weoutthere.

Thank you for being such an awesome community! I love the UMIBC Community!

📷: @justinleerasmussen, Wild Turkey, King’s Park.

#birdjoy #treatyone #homelandofthemétis #birds #birding #welness #community #representationmatters #indigenous @umindigenous @umanitoba @umisacouncil

(Wait for the wing flutter!) Today was all about the young birds, just out of the nest, starting to make their way in the world, albeit with the help of their parents that are still feeding them! Our efforts were rewarded with really cool looks at some young birds and all the love parents have for them. And no walk is complete without seeing a Migizii (Bald Eagle) soaring high above us. Chi-miigwech to those that joined in. I hope you left with a little bird joy that will at least carry you through to our next walk that is two weeks away!

Yes. You read that right. There is NO WALK next week (August 1).

We are back on August 8 for the next walk. We hope to see you then!

Video 1: Fledgling Red-eyed Vireo
Photo 1: Fledgling/Immature Cooper’s Hawk
Photo 2: A pair of fledgling/immature Cooper’s Hawks sitting on the ground.
Photo 3: A fledgling Chipping Sparrow sitting on a rock.
Photo 4: A group of four amazing birders standing in from of the John A Russell Building at the Fort Garry Campus.
Photo 5: A group of five amazing birders standing in front of the John A Russell Building at the Fort Garry Campus.
Photo 6: A fledgling Red-eyed Vireo
Photo 7: A fledgling Red-eyed Vireo

📷🎥: @justinleerasmussen

@umanitoba @umindigenous @umisacouncil
#indigenous #birdjoy #wellness #metisbirder #firstnation #redrivermétis #treatyoneterritory #homelandofthemétis

We hope you can join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! We are here for all of the baby birders (@wiscobirder) that want to try out or learn how to take up birding. We are a community where it is safe to make mistakes while learning. Come get your weekly dose of bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: Tree Swallow sitting on a nest box on a sunny and windy day at Delta Marsh, Manitoba during the UMIBC field trip to Delta Marsh on June 1. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, July 18, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

Yesterday’s birding walk was incredible! So much bird joy! Swipe to see some of the birds we saw! We had a wonderful group ranging from UM students to alumni, and the weather couldn’t have been better. We saw over 22 species and our walk was highlighted by a very special moment where we were honoured by the presence of a Merlin (small falcon, photo 3), a Broad-winged Hawk, and Migizii (a Bald Eagle, photo 7), which was soaring high above us, all at the same time. Moments later, we even heard a Cooper’s Hawk, although we weren’t able to spot it. Additionally, we spotted an Indigo Bunting that was in the midst of moulting (photo 4, 5, and 6). Maarsii (thank you) to everyone that was part of the birding walk this week. It was so cool experiencing all of this bird joy with you! See you all next week!
📷: @justinleerasmussen
eBird checklist link in bio.
@umindigenous @umanitoba @umisacouncil
#birdjoyisresistance #representationmatters #birding #nature #community #redrivermetis #firstnation #indigenous #umanitoba #metisbirder

Last week, we witnessed the beauty and soaring ability of two Swainson’s Hawks high above us. (Note the bird in the photo is a Cooper’s Hawk not a Swainson’s Hawk) They were absolutely spectacular and brought us so much bird joy! Taking a moment away from our desk and screens to see these birds do what they do best was reenergizing for sure. It is hard to believe that some of the Swainson’s Hawks we see here in Manitoba migrate all the way to Argentina to spend the winter. Incredible!

We hope you will join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! We are here for all of the baby birders (@wiscobirder) that want to try out or learn how to take up birding. We are a community where it is safe to make mistakes while learning. Come get your weekly dose of bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: Cooper’s Hawk perched in a tree among some dense foliage at King’s Park. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, July 18, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

We walked. We birded. We represented. We supported. We are community. We took the time to be on the land and pay attention and take notice of our feathered relatives and the lives they live right here on campus. We are UM students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Maarsii, Chi-Miigwech to all those that joined us and contributed knowledge as we learn as a collective. Highlights from our walk were the bald eagle, turkey vulture, and the Swainson’s Hawk parents soaring up high in the sky. We didn’t catch a glimpse of their young on our walk (which we observed from very far away through a spotting scope), but it was still energizing being in the presence of these impressive hawks. Despite the heat we gained so much bird joy. eBird checklist in bio.

📸: @justinleerasmussen Swainson’s Hawk adult and chick in the nest.

Photo 1: Group of birders standing in field in front of Princess Auto Stadium
Photo 2: Group of birders standing in field in front of Princess Auto Stadium with a person standing in foreground taking selfie.
Photo 3: Swainson’s Hawk parent with chick on nest as seen through a spotting scope.

#birdjoy #nature #wellness #representationmatters #redrivermétis #firstnations #swainsonshawk #birding #bipoc

It will be hard to top the bird joy that was had on last week’s bird walk with the time spent with the spotted sandpiper and seeing the eaglets learn how to fly (with one landing on a building!) but we are certain more bird joy awaits us this week! What will we see this week?

Join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk. If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! We are here for all of the baby birders (@wiscobirder) that want to try out or learn how to take up birding. We are a community where it is safe to make mistakes while learning. Come get your weekly dose of bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions. It is usually very hot and humid this time of the year so please take the steps to protect yourself from the sun and bring water.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo: Cedar Waxwing perched in a tree with a blue sky in the background. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, July 4, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

There was so much bird joy and community love on this walk with awesome BIPOC birders and those that support creating space for BIPOC birders! We Out Here!!! It was hot hot hot and humid but our efforts were rewarded with being able to witness the two young migiziiwag (bald eagles) from the nest on the Point Lands on the UM Fort Garry campus learn how to fly and soar like their parents. Spotting the spotted sandpiper was also super cool too! There is a link in our bio to the eBird list for today.

Maarsii to each of you that joined the @umindigenousbirdingclub birding walk today!

📷: @justinleerasmussen

@umanitoba @umindigenous @umstudent @umisacouncil
#indigenousbirders #bipocbirders #firstnationbirders #metisbirders #birdjoy #birdjoyisresistance #eagles #migizii #weouthere

Photo 3 & 4: A young Migizii sitting on a rooftop.
Photo 5: A Savannah Sparrow

This time of year is all about families! Join us this Thursday for our weekly birding walk as we enjoy bird parents doing all the good work that bird parents do! If you are new to birding or this will be your first time out birding: we are your community! We are here for all of the baby birders (@wiscobirder) that want to try out or learn how to take up birding. We are a community where it is safe to make mistakes while learning. Come get your weekly dose of bird joy with us.

We are a community of UM students, staff, faculty, and alum of BIPOC birders (and people who believe in our mission of making space for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ, and folks of all abilities).

We depart from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am and we return at 1:00 pm. We have binoculars you can borrow. We recommend dressing for weather and conditions.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to make the walk more accessible for you, please DM us. We would love to hear from you. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and heard on our walks. We truly believe birding is for everyone!

📸: @justinleerasmussen

Photo 1: Common Yellowthroat singing. Wording on the photo: UM Indigenous Birding Club, Birding Walk, July 4, Departing from the Louis Riel statue in front of Migizii Agamik - The Bald Eagle Lodge at 11:30 am.

@umanitoba @umstudent @umindigenous #indigenous #bipoc #birdjoy #birdingwalk #redrivermetis #firstnation #inuit #birders #birding #representationmatters #manitoba #treaty1 #landbasedlearning #birds #nature

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@umindigenousbirdingclub

Biindigen! Nedanighai! Tunngaugit! En ya! Iyuskin Kuwa! Pihitikwew! Bienvenue! Welcome!

Welcome to the UM Indigenous Birding Club at the University of Manitoba!

We are a community of UM students, staff, and faculty who are passionate about birds, connecting with nature, and promoting Indigenous knowledge.

Our club is dedicated to promoting the benefits of connecting with nature for mental health and wellness. We believe that spending time in the great outdoors has a transformative impact on our well-being. Through our activities, we create opportunities for UM Indigenous students to get on the land, immerse themselves in nature, and experience its healing power.

We firmly believe that birding is for everyone.

Birds hold significant cultural and spiritual importance in Indigenous traditions, and we aim to celebrate and preserve this knowledge. Our club is a welcoming and safe space for birders of all levels. Whether you're an experienced birder or new to birding, we invite you to join us in exploring wonderful greenspaces on and near our campuses, participating in group bird watching walks, and engaging in educational workshops.

Together, let's build a vibrant community of UM students, staff, and faculty who are enthusiastic about birds, connecting with nature, and honoring Indigenous knowledge. We hope you will join us at one of our walks, birding trips, or other events. The details for all upcoming walks and events are listed below.