After lots of hard work, the 91原创 Field Naturalists are ready to launch a brand new bird brochure. The colourful brochure features images of 54 birds that can be viewed in our local surroundings.

From robins, owls and chickadees to hummingbirds and the American goldfinch, B.C. has many fine-feathered friends to see.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting because the brochure features birds that you can find right here in 91原创,鈥� said LFN member Lilianne Fuller.

鈥淲e are putting the brochures in local schools first.

鈥淲hy not start kids off early?

鈥淏irding gets them outside in nature and becoming more aware of their surroundings. Birding can happen in nature and even from an apartment balcony.鈥�

The brochure was made possible because of grants received from BC Nature, the BC Naturalists Foundation, the City of 91原创 and VanCity.

Though the brochure is appropriate for every age and expertise in birding, the club is focusing its efforts on 91原创鈥檚 youth.

Because one of the grants was from the City of 91原创, the 91原创 Field Naturalists are making the brochures available to 91原创 City鈥檚 elementary schools first.

鈥淢any young people are using every technological device available to further their understanding of birds.

鈥淢any 鈥� are following through to university and studying the natural sciences,鈥� said LFN member John Gordon, an avid birder and retired photojournalist whose blog can be found at thecanadianwarbler.blogspot.ca.

鈥淚 know several such young people; they never cease to amaze us.

鈥淭hey will be the guardians of the legacy left by those who fought so hard to preserve what鈥檚 left of natural spaces in the Lower Mainland.

鈥淏irding is a gateway hobby to a lifetime of learning, so if groups like the LFN can, through their Young Naturalists program, encourage youngsters to enjoy the outdoors, then that鈥檚 all good.鈥�

As Gordon notes, 鈥淏irds are the proverbial canary in the coal mine.

鈥淲hen we see a 70 per cent decline in some species we also see a decline in insects like bees 鈥� that affects all of us.鈥�

Birding is an ever increasingly popular hobby for all ages.

Many from LFN contributed photographs to the brochure, said Gordon.

In addition to distributing the brochure to schools, they will be made available at local libraries, recreation centres and at local community events.

To request copies of the brochure, contact the club by email at langleyfieldnaturalists@shaw.ca. or contact Lilianne Fuller at 604-533-0638.