City launches online poll to select Barrie’s official bird

(Barrie, ON) – The City of Barrie is looking to the public to help select Barrie’s official bird. Residents are invited to visit buildingbarrie.ca/BirdPoll to cast their vote for which bird should officially represent the City of Barrie. 

The following short-list of birds were chosen by the Barrie Bird Friendly City certification team in consultation with Nature Barrie:

• Barred Owl
• Belted Kingfisher
• Downy Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• American Goldfinch
• Red-winged Blackbird

To read descriptions of each bird and vote, visit buildingbarrie.ca/BirdPoll. Voting ends on March 31, 2024, and the City will reveal Barrie's official bird on World Migratory Bird Day (May 11, 2024). 

On June 16, 2022, Barrie formally earned the prestigious title of Nature Canada's 15th Bird Friendly City. A Bird Friendly City is a community where key threats to birds are effectively mitigated, nature is restored so native bird populations can thrive, residents are actively engaged in admiring and monitoring local bird populations, and organizations are creating events to protect birds. 

The Bird Friendly City designation has been developed by Nature Canada to encourage Canadian cities and municipalities to become safer and better places for birds. To learn more about Barrie’s Bird Friendly City designation, visit barrie.ca/BirdFriendlyCity.