Friends of Stittsville Wetlands receives funding from the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville on World Migratory Bird Day
Stittsville, ON – In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, overlooking the headwaters of Poole Creek along the TransCanada Trail, the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville presented a $1000 cheque to the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands (FoSW) in support of their ongoing work to protect, restore, regenerate, and rewild the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.
The Goulbourn Wetland Complex, a provincially significant wetland, covering 906 hectares, is less than one kilometre from Stittsville’s Village Square Park. It is accessible by the TransCanada Trail – Canada’s national trail and the longest network of multi-use recreational trails in the world.
This unique ecological treasure is home to over 150 species of birds, including the American Kestrel – the smallest falcon in North America, the Wood Duck – one of the most colorful North American waterfowl – and Species at Risk, such as the Barn Swallow and the Eastern Whip-poor-will.
The colourful Wood Duck, is one of the seven birds chosen to be highlighted on World Migratory Bird Day 2024. Photo by Christy Obalek.
The sharp-eyed American Kestrel, is another one of the seven birds chosen to be highlighted on World Migratory Bird Day 2024. Photo by Jeremy Hynes.
The health of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex, and the species dependent on it, continue to be threatened by land conversion for development, invasive species, pollution, artificial modification of water levels by drainage and filling, and climate change.
World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (WMBD), a global initiative, focuses on an emerging ecological crisis with the theme “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.” The campaign calls for action to protect both migratory birds and the insects they depend on amidst the alarming global decline in insect populations.[1]
Along their migration routes, birds actively seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers. The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys.[2]
The American Kestrel and the Wood Duck are two of the seven bird species that have been chosen by WMBD as ambassadors to show the important role of insects in the lives of these migratory birds.[3]
“Now, more than ever, we need to stand together to ensure the survival of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex – for those species that call them home, for ourselves, and for future generations.”
– Janet Stavinga, President of Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, former Mayor of Goulbourn, and former Ottawa City Councillor
Janet Stavinga, President of FoSW, former Mayor of Goulbourn, and former Ottawa City Councillor, accepts a cheque for the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands from the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, presented by Annette Lindsay, President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville and Charles Mossman, Past President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville.
Janet Stavinga, President of FoSW, former Mayor of Goulbourn, and former Ottawa City Councillor expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville stating, “This funding will help the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands expand our work and is a testament to the collective efforts of our community to step up and protect our wetlands.”
Stavinga further stated, “In a province already experiencing extensive wetland loss, along with the habitat for those species dependent on them, one would think all efforts would be made to protect those wetlands that remain. However, from March 2023 to July 2024, over 600 hectares of wetlands across 39 municipalities lost their provincially significant wetland designation and the strong provincial protection that designation imparts. Of that, 55 hectares were lost within the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.”
Stavinga added, “With the rolling back of progressive environmental protection measures over the last two years by our provincial government, now, more than ever, we need to stand together to ensure the survival of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex – for those species that call them home, for ourselves, and for future generations.”
Left to right: Rideau-Jock Councillor David Brown, Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower, Janet Stavinga, President of FoSW, former Mayor of Goulbourn, and former Ottawa City Councillor, Annette Lindsay, President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville and Charles Mossman, Past President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville.
Charles Mossman, Past President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, stated, “The Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville has established an environmental work group during the last two years, and the environment is one of seven focus areas for Rotary International worldwide. This year our club received an environment certificate from Rotary District 7040 to develop a pollinator garden at Bell Rotary Park.”
Mossman further stated, “We are very pleased to support the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands in its quest to protect and preserve the wetlands around our community. It brings Stittsville residents great joy to visit natural spaces such as the wetlands to view birds and aquatic animals are resident there. It is nice to know that preserving this habitat also enhances the health of our own environment. We all have a stake in ensuring that the work of the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands has positive results for many years to come.”
“This funding from the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville is a great step in supporting this organization dedicated to advocating for the protection of our wetlands, which is home to so many species of birds,” said Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower. “It is also recognition of all the hard work that Janet Stavinga, Steve Klein, and the community have put into the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands. Congratulations!”
Rideau-Jock Councillor David Brown further stated, “It is exciting to see the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands receive such generous support from the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville for their ongoing and vital work. Our communities benefit tremendously from the work and care that FoSW puts into our wetlands. With this new investment, the FoSW will be able to build on their already substantial contributions to better protect, restore, regenerate, and rewild our wetlands.”
WMBD is officially celebrated on the second Saturday in May as migratory birds journey to nesting sites and on the second Saturday in October as they return to wintering areas.
About the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville
Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville brings together people across generations who work to make our community and our world a better place through on-the-ground action.
Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in themselves.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health. The Rotarians are always working to better our world and stay committed to the end.
Rotary members believe in a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues.
Left to right: FoSW volunteers Lynda Cronin, Cally Abraham, Bruce Dudley, Rideau-Jock Councillor David Brown, Linda Halberstadt, FoSW, Lori Mellet, Member, Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, Stittsville Councillor Glen Gower, Janet Stavinga, President of FoSW, former Mayor of Goulbourn, and former Ottawa City Councillor, Annette Lindsay, President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, Bob Halberstadt, FoSW, Charles Mossman, Past President of the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, Terry Swaine, Treasurer, FoSW, and Marion Mossman, Community Working Group, Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville.
About Friends of Stittsville Wetlands
The mission of the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands is to protect, restore, regenerate, and rewild the Goulbourn Wetland Complex, a provincially significant wetland, west of Stittsville for future generations. The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, a volunteer, community-based, not-for-profit corporation, became incorporated on January 1, 2024.
The portion of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex of particular interest to the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands is located immediately west of the urban boundary of Stittsville and north and south of the TransCanada Trail. This portion also includes the headwaters of Poole Creek, which runs through the heart of Stittsville. The upper portion of Poole Creek, west of Stittsville Main Street, is considered a cold or cool water stream – and one of only two in Ottawa. It is recognized as a crucial and rare aquatic habitat. The long-term health of Poole Creek is dependent on the overall health of its headwaters, found within the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.
Since the inception of the organization, the FoSW have built an enviable network of partners – non-governmental conservation organizations – at the national, provincial, and local levels who have been and continue to be instrumental in advancing their mission. The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands are also a member of the Nature Network, a federated member group of about 155 member groups across Ontario under the auspices of Ontario Nature.
About World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day is a global initiative educating people about migratory birds and promoting conservation efforts for their journeys across borders.
In 1993, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center created International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). This educational campaign focused on the Western Hemisphere celebrated its 25th year in 2018. Since 2007, IMBD has been coordinated by Environment for the Americas (EFTA), a non-profit organization that strives to connect people to bird conservation.
In 2018, EFTA joined the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) to create a single, global bird conservation education campaign, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD). Continuing our tradition with IMBD, WMBD celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas – bird migration.
This new alliance furthers migratory bird conservation around the globe by creating a worldwide campaign organized around the planet’s major migratory bird corridors, the African-Eurasian flyway, the East Asian-Australasian flyway, and the Americas flyway. By promoting the same event name, annual conservation theme, and messaging, we combine our voices into a global chorus to boost the urgent need for migratory bird conservation.
EFTA will continue to focus its efforts on the flyways in the Americas to highlight the need to conserve migratory birds and protect their habitats, and will continue to coordinate events, programs, and activities in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean at protected areas, refuges, parks, museums, schools, zoos, and more. As many as 700 events and programs are hosted annually to introduce the public to migratory birds and ways to conserve them.[1]