Engagement results

Why we engaged

Kingston is applying to be a certified Bird-Friendly City in 2025. To support the certification process, the City chose to select an official City Bird. Through a public engagement, residents were able to choose from one of 16 birds to represent Kingston.

The list of birds was chosen by the City’s Bird Team, which includes representatives from the City of Kingston, educational institutions, local community groups and environmental organizations. The short-listed birds were identified as native species commonly found in the wild in various parts of the city.

How we engaged

A survey was published on Get Involved Kingston from Sept. 11 to Oct. 3. Participants were invited to select one of 16 birds that they felt represented Kingston. Participants were able to choose “Other” as an option and submit a bird not on the list.

A display was set up at the Seniors’ Centre and participants were able to choose by ballot which bird they felt represented Kingston. The ballot box was on display from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.

Information about the engagement was shared with the Limestone District School Board and distributed to school administrators for promotion.

The engagement was promoted with the community in a variety of ways including:

  • Social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and X
  • News release sent to media and community news subscribers
  • Content in weekly Get Involved Kingston newsletter

Who we heard from

  • 1,652 participants completed the survey
    • 80 participants submitted honourable mentions
    • 188 ballots were from in-person voting
    • 6,600 aware participants visited the project page to learn more
    • 405 participants engaged with the City for the first time on Get Involved Kingston
  • Location of respondents
    • 27% Southwest Kingston (K7M)
    • 24% Central-East Kingston (K7K)
    • 18% Central-South Kingston (K7L)
    • 11% Northwest Kingston (K7P)
    • 6% Other (Loyalist Township, Frontenac County, Lennox & Addington County, Prince Edward County, Gananoque, Lanark, South Leeds and Grenville, Brockville, Belleville, Ottawa, Toronto)
    • 14% chose not to respond

A pie chart showing the breakdown of postal codes of respondents. K7M had 445, K7K had 405, K7L had 298, K7P had 179, Other had 98, Did not respond had 227. Figure A: Participants' postal codesWhat we heard

A pie chart showing the breakdown of votes. Blue jay had 104. Eastern screech owl had 74. Mallard had 71. Sharp-shinned hawk had 21. Northern flicker had 43. Song sparrow had 69. Red-winged blackbird had 140. Red-tailed hawk had 32. Common loon had 61. House wren had 24. Pileated woodpecker had 51. Downy woodpecker had 69. Northern cardinal had 339. Mourning dove had 91. Common tern had 44. American crow had 339. Other had 80.Figure B: Voting results


The birds that received the most votes were:

  • Cardinal & Crow: 339 (tie)
  • Bed-winged Blackbird: 140
  • Blue Jay: 104
  • Mourning Dove: 91

Participants were able to select “Other” as a poll option and provide the name of a bird they thought should represent Kingston.

Honourable mentions include:

  • American robin
  • Bald eagle
  • Belted kingfisher
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Bobolink
  • Canada goose
  • Common grackle
  • Cormorant
  • Eastern kingbird
  • European starling
  • Goldfinch
  • Great blue heron
  • House finch
  • Merlin
  • North American osprey
  • Nuthatch
  • Raven
  • Rock dove
  • Ruby-throated hummingbird
  • Sandhill crane
  • Seagull
  • Swan
  • Turkey vulture
  • White ibis

Results

The City announced the Cardinal and the Crow as joint official City Birds at the Kingston Fall Birding Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11, to coincide with World Migratory Bird Day.

Kingston Councillor Gregory Ridge and Director of Public Works and Solid Waste Karen Santucci stand speaking to a crowd in front of tents from the City of Kingston and Kingston Field Naturalists.Kingston Councillor Gregory Ridge and Director of Public Works and Solid Waste Karen Santucci address a crowd at Doug Fluhrer Park on Oct. 11.

Kingston has submitted its application to become a certified Bird-Friendly City and we await the decision.

Thank you to everyone for your interest in this engagement. Kingston’s Bird Team will continue to raise awareness about local species and action our commitment to protecting birds and their habitats.