'We're losing billion of birds': Backyard risks to Alberta's birds and how you can help make fall migration a successful one

An estimated four billion birds will navigate man-made environments as they travel south from North America during fall migration. Tens of million of them will die en route due to human-created hazards.

Fall is a busy time for birds in the capital region, with hundreds of species coming or going from the Edmonton area.

As birdwatchers say goodbye to the iconic Canada goose and noisy high-flying flocks of tens-of-thousands of sandhill cranes, they may start catching glimpses of juncos, pine grosbeaks, and bohemian waxwings as they arrive in Edmonton to hunker down for the winter.

Those looking for bigger birds will soon be able to find bald eagles galore at Hastings Lake, southeast of Sherwood Park, where they'll hunt waterfowl until the water freezes over.

Global Bird Rescue, estimates four billion birds will navigate man-made environments as they travel south from North America during fall migration.

Kim Blomme, director of research and policy at animal rescue organization WildNorth, said it can be a vulnerable time – especially for those spring chicks undertaking their first trips as juvenile birds.

Many won't survive due to predation, inexperience or bad weather. Tens-of-millions of others will die preventable deaths, often in our own backyards.

"Window strikes and cat catches – those really are the two major impacts on birds, and we're losing billions of birds because of those two things," Blomme said.