The presentation will describe the natural history of the Endangered Black Swift in Canada and recent findings from Paul and Christine’s work on the species. Presenters will unpack why the species is described by some birders as “the coolest bird” and why the species account in The Birds of British Columbia (Campbell et al. 1990) ends with the following note: “The breeding distribution and biology of the Black Swift in British Columbia remain for determined and careful observers to reveal”.
Brief Bio: Wildlife Biologists, Paul Levesque and Christine Rock have worked alongside one another on several projects over the years. Together they co-founded WildResearch, with a mission to build, train, and educate a community that contributes to conservation science. While serving on the Executive Board they ran the Iona Island Bird Observatory and organized pelagic birding trip fundraisers from Ucluelet, BC. They were each awarded the BC Nature Club Service Award for their contributions to WildResearch. They have both worked in many exciting birding locations across BC (Triangle Island and Haida Gwaii to name a few), and in remote areas of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Most recently, their focus has been on advancing our understanding of the Black Swift.