Wednesday June 18, 2025 | SAANICH, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The District of Saanich has chosen an official bird for their municipality…. drum roll… it’s the Great Horned Owl!
Having an official bird serves as a symbol of the importance of birds in ecosystems and helps enhance awareness about birds in Saanich.
The Great Horned Owl will designate Saanich as a Bird-Friendly City in Canada.
About the Great Horned Owl:
The Great Horned Owl lives in forests, nests in trees, and eats mammals.
It’s one of the most common owls in North America. It can live in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
The Great Horned Owls have soft feathers that insulate them against the cold winter weather and allow them to fly nearly silently.
Their large eyes with a long gaze and upright body stature lend to their reputation in literature as representing wisdom and authority.
Public vote:
The public vote to choose the official Saanich bird produced these results:
- Great Horned Owl – 33.2%
- Bewick’s Wren – 27.3%
- Northern Flicker – 27.1%
- Cooper’s Hawk – 12.4%
“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,” says Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock. “Congratulations to the Great Horned Owl — I know you’ll represent Saanich well as our Official Bird.”
Educational:
The contest was a way to educate Saanich residents about the diversity of birds in the municipal area.
“Thank you to everyone who took part in this fun initiative – it was a real hoot!”, said Cara Gibson, Executive Director, Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.
Regional:
Recently the Capital Regional District was named the Birding Capital of Canada, showcasing just how many birds enjoy a hospitable habitat on south Vancouver Island.
The official bird of British Columbia is the Stellar’s Jay and the official tree is the Dogwood.
The Gray Jay in 2016 was recommended by the Canadian Geographic’s “National Bird Project” as the Official Bird of Canada. Canada’s official tree is the maple.
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NEWS SECTIONS: SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND | TREES & NATURAL HABITAT