Expert advice
- Risk assessment and analysis of existing buildings
- Recommendations for effective mitigation measures
- Review of building plans
- Bird-safe design advice for new construction
- Educational presentations
- Guidance and training for bird-collision monitoring
- Avian rescue and rehabilitation advice
- Communications strategies with regards to window collisions
Who am I?
In 2013, I co-founded Safe Wings Ottawa, a community science initiative to research bird-window collisions in Canada’s capital, raise awareness of the causes, and encourage effective solutions and policies to make buildings safer for birds. That meant monitoring high-risk buildings, collecting carcasses and data, public outreach, advocacy, and rescuing birds. Safe Wings Ottawa continues to make significant contributions to bird-collision research, education, safer buildings, legislative change, and improved avian care.
Under my leadership, Safe Wings spearheaded the adoption of bird-safe design policies and practices by the Government of Canada, National Capital Commission, City of Ottawa, University of Ottawa and Carleton University. I also kept busy with risk-assessments of existing buildings, reviewing building plans, providing advice on effective mitigation measures, developing communications strategies and materials, public speaking, media relations, and the rescue and rehabilitation of injured birds.
Based in the Netherlands since 2022, I continue to apply my expertise to raise awareness about bird-window collisions and to promote the adoption of effective mitigation strategies in support of bird conservation.
Recognition
My commitment to avian conservation has been recognized by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, which twice honoured me with the Member of the Year Award. I am also a Paul Harris Fellow, and a recipient of the Canada 150 Sesquicentennial Award, the Ottawa Distinguished Women Award, and the Ontario Field Ornithologists Certificate of Appreciation.