Billions of migratory songbirds travel to Canada each spring and fill the air with their musical melodies. But how do birds learn to sing their complex songs?

In observance of World Migratory Bird Day, UWindsor ornithologist Dan Mennill, a professor of integrative biology and associate dean of science for graduate studies and research, will present “How Wild Birds Learn to Sing” on two occasions sponsored by the Pelee Island Bird Observatory:

• Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m. at the Ojibway Nature Centre
• Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m. at the Pelee Island Winery Pavillion

Dr. Mennill will present the results of a decade-long study of migratory sparrows: the first-ever evidence that wild birds learn to sing from adults they hear in the first months of their lives, and refine their songs after their first springtime migration as they interact with their neighbours.

“The songs of birds are not too different from the language of humans,” he says. “This will be a great opportunity to share our team’s research on migratory birds with our local community.”

Each talk is open to the public with a suggested donation of $20 and will be preceded by a social gathering and refreshments. All donated funds go to support the Pelee Island Bird Observatory and its efforts to study and conserve birds.

Also on the agenda is an address by Gill Holmes, a wildlife technician with the Canadian Wildlife Service in Newfoundland and Labrador, entitled “Migration Patterns: the Journey of a Bird-Obsessed Human,” over Zoom at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8.

Find details on all these events on the Sustainability website.

World Migratory Bird Day is Saturday, May 10. This year’s theme, “Shared Spaces,” is focused on making cities, villages, towns, and communities more bird-friendly, advocating for strategic urban planning and conservation efforts that make the environment safe and welcoming for birds: planting native plants, providing clean water, and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.