Protecting Shorebirds: Collaboration in Action
Environment Spotlight
Each year, thousands of migrating shorebirds make a stop at Irving Nature Park to rest and refuel during their 4,000-kilometre journey south. Since 2019, J.D. Irving, Limited’s Woodlands Division has collaborated with the Saint John Naturalists Club and Nature NB to protect these tiny, feathered visitors at the park’s Saints Rest Beach.
More than 30 dedicated volunteers educate park visitors about the importance of letting shorebirds rest undisturbed — Palmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and Piping Plovers stop here to complete their migration to South America.
The commitment to bird conservation extends beyond the park. In a 30-year study published in 2024, researchers from the University of Maine and Tufts University found that 70 per cent of bird species analyzed in Maine’s working forests experienced population increases — bucking continental trends of decline.
Did you Know?
Our nature parks, Irving Nature Park and La Dune de Bouctouche, both hold international designations as Important Bird Areas. Through partnerships with local groups, Irving Woodlands continues to support the conservation of these important species.