Education and outreach for a Bird Friendly Community depends not just on the efforts of the Bird Friendly team but also in the town in general. There may be a spot for you as an individual or your organization to help out!
On December 9, 2024, the Town of Devon - Mayor and Council voted unanimously to adopt the Black-capped Chickadee as Devon’s Official Bird. The Devon Bird Team is shown above presenting a commemorative picture of the Black-capped Chickadee to Mayor Craddock and Council.
In the fall of 2024, the Devon Bird Team proposed candidates for an official Town of Devon bird. Over 2150 Residents and students voted online and in person and chose the Black-capped Chickadee as the winner.
As the official town bird of Devon the Black-capped Chickadee:
A bird almost universally considered “cute” thanks to its oversized round head, tiny body, and curiosity about everything, including humans. Its quickness to discover bird feeders, make it one of the first birds most people learn.
Cool Facts about the Black-capped Chickadee:
Listen to the Black Capped Chickadee Songs and Calls
In most of North America, the song is a simple, pure 2 or 3-note whistled fee-bee or hey, sweetie. In much of the range, males begin singing in winter, and the song increases in frequency as winter progresses. Females also sing occasionally.
Chickadee calls are complex and language-like, communicating information on identity and recognition of other flocks as well as predator alarms and contact calls. The more dee notes in a chickadee-dee-dee call, the higher the threat level.
Learn More about the Black-Capped Chickadee
Election Process
Pre-selection of 8 finalists was completed by the Devon Bird Team / Devon Nature Club using the following criteria:
From these eight candidates 2150 residents of Devon voted online, and in-person for the official town bird between September 15 and November 15, 2024. This represents 32% of our total population.
Election Results
The Devon Bird Team would like to thank the following local businesses for hosting polling stations with candidate posters, voting Instructions, paper ballots, and ballot boxes:
Town Bird Photography
The Black-capped Chickadee photo above was taken at Clifford E Lee Nature Sanctuary by local photographer, Hudson King.
Hudson lives on an acreage near Devon. His appreciation for wildlife started at an early age and has grown ever since. Hudson's goal is to inspire people with his photographs to protect and conserve the beauty of nature. He currently works as a biologist monitoring birds and other wildlife.
There are two World Migratory Bird Days each year, one is the second Saturday in May, and the other is the second Saturday in October. The Town of Devon Bird Team holds events in the spring and in the fall each year, celebrating Birds and their protection. More information on World Migratory Bird Day can be found at:
Individuals and community groups can help mitigate loss and protect our birds as they are a key part of a healthy environment. Below are links to brochures that feature valuable “did you know” and “what you can do” information that makes it easy for everyone to do something to help protect our bird populations:
Bird Friendly coffee comes from family farms in Latin America that provide good, forest-like habitat for birds. Rather than being grown on farms that have been cleared of vegetation, Bird Friendly coffees are planted under a canopy of trees. These trees provide the shelter, food and homes that migratory and local birds need to survive and thrive. Bird friendly coffee is available at:
There are many ways in which you can become involved in Bird Friendly programs in and around Devon. Below are links to some of these activities:
Devon-Calmar Christmas Bird Count – contact Doug Macaulay at mothman@telus.net
If you have any questions about Devon's Bird Friendly initiative, please email our Devon Bird Team at: reynodo@shaw.ca.