Canadian Geographic featured U of G professor Ryan Norris in a story about how the Canada jay had its name restored by the American Ornithological Society earlier this month.

The story detailed how Dan Strickland, a retired Algonquin Provincial Park naturalist, researched the origins of bird naming by the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) in the 1940s and 50s and why the Canada jay became the gray jay. Strickland later wrote about his research in Ontario Birds and began petitioning to have the bird’s name restored.

In the article, Ryan Norris, Department of Integrative Biology, applauded Strickland’s project and said he hopes the federal government will formally recognize the Canada jay as the country’s national bird.

Norris is studying a declining population of Canada jays in Algonquin Provincial Park and has been a long-time collaborator with Strickland.

Related posts:

  1. Oh, Canada! The Canada Jay Gets Its Name Back in Time for the Holiday
  2. Freeze-Thaw Spoiling of Cached Food Threatens Canada Jays, U of G Study Finds
  3. Gray Jay Great Pick for National Bird, U of G Prof Says
  4. Freeze-Thaw Events Hindering Iconic Canadian Bird’s Food Stores, Breeding, U of G Study Finds