What should be the official bird of Sault Ste. Marie?

Sault Ste. Marie hasn't quite "gone to the birds" but it is looking to become a "bird-friendly city."

Algoma University is partnering with the city to fulfill the requirements from Nature Canada, which includes the naming of a city bird.

An effort to have the Sault recognized as a bird-friendly city is underway. The collaborative effort between the city and Algoma U has resulted in what they're calling a “bird blitz."

Among its many activities is a city-wide vote to determine an official city bird.

"The common raven is on there,” said Roxane Bergeron, who is the Bird Friendly City project lead and an environmental science student

“The blue jay, the pileated woodpecker, we've got the yellow-rumped warbler and the red-breasted nuthatch, as well as the black-capped chickadee, which seems to be the frontrunner at the moment."

Among the candidates to be the Sault's official bird is the the yellow-rumped warbler (pictured), the raven, the blue jay, the pileated woodpecker, the red-breasted nuthatch and the black-capped chickadee. (File)

Bird photo contest

"We have a few different initiatives to get students aware of the project, and interested in birds, interested in the sustainability projects we have going on,” said Algoma’s Erin Riley.

“Part of that is a bird photo contest. To conclude the bird blitz, we have a bird-watching tour for students, staff and faculty of Algoma U."

To become a bird-friendly city, the Sault must prove to Nature Canada that it is making progress on the three pillars of the campaign: habitat and climate resiliency, educational outreach and threat reduction.

The main issue for urban bird deaths locally is feral cats.

"One of the remedies for this cat issue that there is in the city, is a cat-counting protocol,” Bergeron said.

“Just to get an estimate on the amount of stray cats there are in the city and keeping it going annually to see what the trend is."

But they're also looking at solutions related to glass windows and upward facing lights that disturb bird migration.

New windows with anti-collision stickers

"Retrofitting buildings with new windows with anti-collision stickers to stop birds from hitting the windows,” Bergeron said.

“Get policies for bigger buildings and organizations to shut their lights off, or at least get downward-facing lights."

The voting period for the Sault's official bird closes April 2, with the city announcing the winner shortly after.

Nature Canada will likely determine if the Sault can be designated a bird-friendly city sometime in the next couple of months.

For more information on how to vote for Sault Ste. Marie's official bird, click here.

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