Canada has gone to the birds!

Five battle for the title of Canada’s national bird

On Wednesday, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society will be announcing its recommendation for Canada’s national bird, and the competition is fierce.

After nearly 50,000 votes from the public, five birds have flown to the head of the flock.

“Canadians have become enthralled with the idea of choosing a bird to become our national emblem,” Gilles Gagnier, publisher of Canadian Geographic, said in a press release.

The common loon, the snowy owl, the gray jay, the Canada goose, and the black-capped chickadee beat out over 40 other birds to claim their position as finalists.

While the common loon is leading the pack with almost 14,000 votes, not everyone is in favour of the bird being the face of the loonie, and the country.

“People think they are gentle birds, they are not, they’re killers – they’ll kill each other.” says Michael Runtz, a professor at Carleton University who has personally witnessed two common loons fighting to the death.

Runtz, author of Wild Wings: The Hidden World of Birds, says that only one of the contenders deserves the title, the black-capped chickadee, and he won’t be happy if the nation gets it wrong.

Unlike the other four birds, the chickadee is commonly found throughout Canada.

“Most Canadians have met a black-capped chickadee. It goes to birdfeeders all winter long, it’s found in people’s backyards,” says Runtz. “I don’t think any other species has that combination of  . . . hardiness and compatibility with our encroachment on its natural areas,” he adds.

Earlier this fall, Runtz was asked to sit on a panel of experts to defend the Canada goose as the choice for national bird, but he declined.

“Terrible choice, terrible choice,” says Runtz when thinking about the Canada goose as the feathered masthead of the country.

Although the Canada goose is easily recognized, it may be known for the wrong reasons.

According to Runtz, “we have problems associated with Canada geese.”

They are known to eat farmer’s crops, soil beaches and cars with their droppings, and wreak havoc in public centers.

“They even downed an airplane in New York a few years ago, so the Americans don’t like Canada geese either,” says Runtz.

While Runtz says the final two contenders, the snowy owl and the gray jay are both admirable birds, they are not as accessible as the chickadee.

The snowy owl, which is currently in second place, is a northern bird that is only found in some parts of the nation.

Although it makes a perfect pet for Harry Potter, it may not be the best choice for Canada.

Similarly, the gray jay lives a secluded life.

“Unless you go to the gray jay’s turf, you don’t see them,” says Runtz.

Taking the public vote into account, the Royal Canadian Geographic Society will announce its official choice for Canada’s National Bird Wednesday evening at their College of Fellows annual dinner at the Canadian War Museum.

“If the chickadee doesn’t win, I’ll cause civil unrest,” Runtz vows.

With #NotMyBird circulating, which feathery friend do you think would have been a better choice for Canada's National Bird? #catchthedriftcu

— THE DRIFT (@thedriftCU) November 17, 2016