Presented by Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Bird Names: Film screening and Q&A

About This Event

Join Canadian Geographic, director Aliya Jasmine and others involved in Bird Names for a screening of the film and discussion about the naming of nature. Who gets honoured? And how do these names shape the future of conservation?

The names of nearly 150 North American bird species have not aged well, ruffling feathers in the ornithological world. In Bird Names, a Canadian-led film crew—who are also BIPOC and queer birders—take flight on a journey through culture, history, and ecology to explore why species’ names matter: for conservation, for equity, and for the future of the planet.

This timely and thought-provoking short documentary embarks on an eye-opening journey through the groundbreaking movement to rename North American birds historically named after white men with troubling legacies. As bird populations continue to plummet, and North American discourse around equity becomes more polarized, the debate over renaming bird species has never been more relevant—highlighting how the names we choose for the creatures around us impact both our understanding of the natural world and our societal progress.

Admission for this event is pay-what-you-can. Your donation helps the Royal Canadian Geographical Society offer more insightful public programming like this!

About This Event

Join Canadian Geographic, director Aliya Jasmine and others involved in Bird Names for a screening of the film and discussion about the naming of nature. Who gets honoured? And how do these names shape the future of conservation?

The names of nearly 150 North American bird species have not aged well, ruffling feathers in the ornithological world. In Bird Names, a Canadian-led film crew—who are also BIPOC and queer birders—take flight on a journey through culture, history, and ecology to explore why species’ names matter: for conservation, for equity, and for the future of the planet.

This timely and thought-provoking short documentary embarks on an eye-opening journey through the groundbreaking movement to rename North American birds historically named after white men with troubling legacies. As bird populations continue to plummet, and North American discourse around equity becomes more polarized, the debate over renaming bird species has never been more relevant—highlighting how the names we choose for the creatures around us impact both our understanding of the natural world and our societal progress.

Admission for this event is pay-what-you-can. Your donation helps the Royal Canadian Geographical Society offer more insightful public programming like this!

Getting There

Alex Trebek Theatre
50 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2K1
Canada