The Loggerhead Shrike, a threatened species of grassland bird in Manitoba. The Manitoba Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program is focusing on aerial insectivores, shorebirds and grassland birds, whose populations have declined more significantly than any other groups in Canada since the 1970s. Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

The Chestnut-collared Longspur, a threatened species of grassland bird. The Manitoba IBA Program actively encourages greater participation in bird monitoring, species-at-risk stewardship and educational programming for grassland birds, shorebirds and aerial insectivores. Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

The Short-billed Dowitcher. Southwestern Manitoba contains some of the most important bird habitat in the province, and Enbridge's recent $5,000 donation to the Manitoba IBA Program will help Nature Manitoba continue to make vital connections between people and the birds who need them  Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

A Northern Rough-winged Swallow, an aerial insectivore like the endangered Chimney Swift. “The long-term trends for aerial insectivores, including chimney swifts, in Canada are particularly horrendous,” says Tim Poole, the Manitoba Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program coordinator with Nature Manitoba. “So it’s really all about trying to tie these communities, these individuals, to these different groups of birds.”

The Baird's Sparrow. The Manitoba Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program aims to reach out to more than 2,000 people across southwestern Manitoba in the spring of 2019. Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

The Ferruginous Hawk, a threatened species in Manitoba. The Manitoba IBA Program will work with a number of partners to provide incentive packages to the owners of native mixed-grass prairie in southwest Manitoba, specially in areas with high concentrations of grassland bird species at risk. Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper, a global near-threatened species of shorebird. The Manitoba IBA Program aims to expand the number of routes and volunteer participants in the International Shorebird Survey (ISS) in Manitoba in 2019, focusing on wetlands in the region. Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

The Barn Swallow. Says Tim Pool, the Manitoba Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program coordinator with Nature Manitoba: “These birds rely on people for these habitats, but the habitats also give back to people. There are real synergies there—between these birds and the communities that they depend on.” Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a shorebird species of special concern. The Manitoba IBA Program plans to organize training events in spring 2019 with volunteers and community members to assist them with identification and monitoring of this group of birds. Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.

The Sprague's Pipit, a threatened species of grassland bird. The Manitoba IBA Program, along with partners, will support incentive-based initiatives aimed at reversing the long-term decline in grassland bird species. Photo credit: Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada.