In early May, the District of Saanich announced that they were in search of its very first ‘official bird,’ and residents were called to cast their vote!
The contest, a joint initiative between the District of Saanich and Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, cast the Bewick’s Wren, Cooper’s Hawk, Great Horned Owl, and Northern Flicker as their options.
Each of these birds was selected for its strong ties to the region—they’re all native to North America, call Greater Victoria home year-round, and haven’t already been named the official bird of another Canadian city.
After the voting closed on June 7th, the results are finally in!
The Great Horned Owl has officially been named Saanich’s Official Bird with 33.2% of the vote, which symbolizes the importance of birds in our ecosystems.
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“This win is a real feather in the cap for this beautiful bird which makes Saanich home,” says Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock.
“It’s always exciting to spot an owl while out on a walk, or to hear a pair calling to each other in the evening. Congratulations to the Great Horned Owl—I know you’ll represent Saanich well as our Official Bird.”
The results for the other birds are as follows: Bewick’s Wren with 27.3%, Northern Flicker with 27.1% and the Cooper’s Hawk with 12.4%.
Plus, this announcement comes after CRD was recently named the Birding Capital of Canada, which highlights just how many birds benefit from the hospitable habitats that are offered in the area.
“This contest was a great way to educate Saanich residents about the diversity of birds in our community and the role they play in healthy ecosystems,” says Cara Gibson, Executive Director, Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.
“Thank you to everyone who took part in this fun initiative—it was a real hoot!”
