The image above highlights a May 2, 2026 Citizen Science Birding Panel in Vancouver. An April 19, 2026 Stanley Park Ecology Society’s (SPES) notice (received via email) reveals more,

We’re reaching out with a special invitation to join us on May 2 [2026] for an engaging evening of conversation and connection.

Your Observation Matters: Citizen Science in Birding is a panel discussion that explores how everyday bird sightings (yes, even yours) can contribute to real scientific research and conservation efforts. Whether you’re an experienced birder or just starting to notice the birds around you, this event will offer insight into how small observations can make a big impact.

The evening will also include a reception with light refreshments, a live audience Q&A, and guided bird walks, so you can connect, learn, and experience birding in action.

We’d love to see you there!

SPES has more detail on its event page,

Your Observation Matters: Citizen Science in Birding Panel

May marks the middle of spring avian migration for Vancouver. During this incredible time, millions of birds follow the pacific flyway from as far south as Argentina to their spring…

2 May 2026 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm PDT

Location: Stanley Park Pavillion
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May marks the middle of spring avian migration for Vancouver. During this incredible time, millions of birds follow the pacific flyway from as far south as Argentina to their spring breeding grounds as far north as Alaska. Every year in May, World Migratory Bird Day, and the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration promote birding and bird conservation opportunities. The 2026 World Migratory Bird Day conservation theme is: Every Bird Counts, Your Observations Matter, highlighting the importance of Citizen Science in contributing to bird conservation efforts.

Your Observation Matters! Join Stanley Park Ecology for a hybrid remote/in-person panel discussion on citizen science in birding, featuring local scientists and community leaders. Hear how your iNaturalist and eBird observations are used to help birds in BC and around the world.

Location: Stanley Park Pavillion

About the Event:

What is citizen science? How can it be used to help birds in Greater Vancouver? How can I get involved? Hear from leaders in birding with backgrounds spanning from academic research to Indigenous law. The panelists will explore the opportunities and impacts of citizen science, followed by an audience Q/A section, and reception with refreshments.

Your ticket includes: admission to the panel discussion, refreshments during the reception, and discounts for additional bird walks. A limited number of tickets will be available with front of house seats, and complimentary parking for the day in Stanley Park.

Special thank you to our neighbors at Stanley Park Pavillion for hosting us in the Lord Stanley Ballroom.

Accompanying Bird Walks:

Interested in spending more time with the birds? In addition to the hybrid remote/in-person panel discussion, we will be hosting bird walks in Stanley Park with members of the panel. A discount code to these bird walks will be included with your registration to this event. Stay tuned for more information.

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Bird Walk with Dr Bird: Date TBC [Note: I had to include a bird walk with Dr. Bird]

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Speaker Bios:

Scott Loarie
Dr. Scott Loarie is the Executive Director at iNaturalist, and holds degrees in Biology and Environmental Science. At iNaturalist, Scott champions the power of Citizen Science as more than just a tool to record observations, but as a fundamental infrastructure to supercharge connection to nature, and to drive data based conservation efforts. 

John Reynolds
Dr. John Reynolds is a professor at Simon Fraser University, where he holds the Tom Buell Chair in Aquatic Conservation. He has won several international awards for his scientific research, is the past Chair of COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), and has been inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His research has always been driven by his obsession with natural history. His addiction to citizen science initiatives, including iNaturalist and eBird, led to his co-founding of the BC Biodiversity Program, which has amassed over 1.4 million mapped records of plants, animals, and fungi across the province.

David Bird
As an Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Biology at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and now living on Vancouver Island, David has co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers, supervised 50 graduate students, mostly on birds of prey and human-wildlife conflicts, and has written and/or edited more than a dozen nature books, including Birds of Canada and Pocket Birds of Canada.  David has earned several awards for his research and education efforts and is heading a team to make the Canada Jay Canada’s National Bird.  Besides his innumerable public lectures and radio and television appearances, he contributes regularly on bird watching to BWD and Canadian Wildlife magazines.

Jeffrey Nicholls
Jeff is a member of the Ganhada – ‘Raven Clan’ of the Tsimshian Nation, president of RAVEN Trust, and Lawyer for Ratcliff LLP. RAVEN works to support Indigenous Nations upholding their rights in court through fundraising and public education campaigns. His work in birding connects the importance of birds, habitat, and Indigenous law. He has spoken at the 2025 Frontiers in Ornithology Student Symposium, and was featured in the Summer 2021 edition of Wingspan Magazine.

Trenton Schulz-Franco
Trentön is an advocate for Indigenous-led stewardship, an artist with a background in law, ecology, and geo-political commentary, as well as being passionate about photography, canoe guiding, and cricket. Originally from the traditional and ancestral lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ communities and the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples on Vancouver Island, Trenton is the founder of the Special Bird Service Society (SBS), International Swift Stewardship Society (ISS) & the Nest Network. SBS is a community-focused organization dedicated to making nature more accessible for our Global Majority and 2SLGBTQ+ communities across the Salish Coast. Through birding-centered education, recreation, and habitat restoration initiatives, SBS fosters connection, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship.

Event Schedule:

9:30 AM – Doors Open

Join us in the Lord Stanley Ballroom. Pick up some coffee and tea at the reception area and find your seat.

10 AM – Event Opening and Land Welcome

Learn about upcoming Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration events as we settle into our seats. Land welcome provided by Talaysay Tours.

10:20 AM – Presentation of 2026 Alan Duncan Award

Join us in congratulating a special leader in local bird conservation. The Alan Duncan Award celebrates community leaders in the interdisciplinary arts and sciences. The 2026 winner will be announced on May 1st!

11:00 AM – Moderated Panel Discussion

Hear about our panelists work, relationships to citizen science, and more.

12:30 pm – Audience Q&A [question and answer]

Join in the discussion! We will have an opportunity for audience members to ask questions of the panelists.

1:00 PM – Reception

Your ticket includes refreshments following the panel discussion. Connect with other birders and enjoy.

1:30 pm – Event Ends

We recommend enjoying lunch at Stanley’s Bar and Grill.

2:00 PM – Optional Post Panel Bird Walk

Join us for more informal discussion as we look for birds in Stanley Park.

Thank you for supporting Stanley Park Ecology.

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They are keeping tickets affordable with prices ranging from $10 – $30.

Addendum: art/science and the Alan Duncan Bird Conservation Award

The Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration hosts the Alan Duncan Bird Conservation Award webpage, Note: the 2026 winner will be announced on May 2, 2026 (Your Observation Matters: Citizen Science in Birding Panel) at 10:20 am,

The Stanley Park Ecology and the Vancouver Bird Advisory Committee are pleased to offer the Alan Duncan Bird Conservation Award. The award was established to help encourage local bird conservation initiatives through the arts and sciences including critical research on resident, migratory and over-wintering bird species. Presented annually, the award celebrates individuals, groups or organizations that are leading the way in bird conservation within our region.

Alan had a long career as the Vancouver Park Board’s first Environmental Planner and retired in 2020. His passion and dedication to bird conservation could be seen throughout his career. Alan was an active member of the Vancouver Bird Advisory Committee and championed a wide range of bird conservation efforts in our region including the Vancouver Bird Strategy established in 2015, World Migratory Bird Day celebrations and, since 2010, Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration to raise awareness of and appreciation for birds in the city and its environs

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About the Award

The award will celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups or organizations based on the following criteria that embody Alan’s work and values:

1. Contributing to Bird Conservation
   • Work in Habitat Protection, including:
     • land stewardship
     • invasive species removal
     • bird friendly gardens
   • Work that encourages more people to care about birds.
   • Work that makes birding more accessible.
2. Interdisciplinary in Nature
   • Work that mixes art and science, including:
     • Poetry
     • Sketching
     • Photography
     • Writing
     • Design
     • Bird Surveys
     • Community Science
3. Strong Community Connections
   • Work that brings people together across southern coastal BC.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $1500, be recognized through different media including social media and our website, and will have the opportunity to speak about their work during the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration.

The winner will be selected by a subcommittee of the Vancouver Bird Advisory Committee.

Please note that you must be located in British Columbia to participate.

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Winners

2025 – Trenton Schulz-Franco

Trenton is a multimedia artist with a background in law, ecology, and geo-political commentary, as well as a passion for photography, canoe guiding, and cricket. …

2024 – Melissa Hafting

Melissa has been nominated multiple times over the last few years for her dedication to inclusivity in birding as a beacon of change towards making the birding world more accessible and welcoming to all ages, genders, and races. …

2023 – Kevin Bell

Kevin is a lifelong birder with a long list of accomplishments in bird conservation within the Greater Vancouver region. As a retired nature educator and as a current board member of the Wild Bird Trust of BC. Kevin’s proudest achievement …

2022 – Adam Dhalla

Adam is the creator of Find the Birds,  a free, educational, mobile game about birds & conservation. It’s being played by thousands in BC, across Canada, and in 46 other countries. …

2021 – Carmen Rosen

Founding Artistic Director of Still Moon Arts Society. Carmen’s work as an artist focusses on protecting and restoring the habitat in Renfrew Ravine and Still Creek Watershed. Carmen was actively engaged with artists to put together the Birds, Birds, Birds! Project that lasted two years featuring …

Adam Dhalla and his Find the Birds game were profiled here in a January 7, 2022 posting.