Effects of COVID-19-related travel restrictions on migratory birds, including species at risk, in Canada

与新冠肺炎相关的旅行限制可能会产生许多意想不到的重大影响，不仅对人类，对野生动物也是如此。这包括许多濒临灭绝的鸟类，如加拿大林莺、红头莺和谷仓燕子。这对管理和保护濒危候鸟和物种的联邦部门加拿大环境和气候变化(ECCC)具有关键意义，因为旅行限制可能会对该部门负责的物种产生意想不到的后果。 车辆交通对许多受保护鸟类物种有一系列直接和间接影响，与新冠肺炎相关的旅行限制可能对每个物种产生积极影响(由于噪音和交通死亡率降低)或负面影响(由于捕食者数量和活动水平增加)。因此，重要的是监测受关注的物种，找出可能由于新冠肺炎旅行限制而需要积极管理的鸟类物种，量化交通变化的影响，并制定缓解战略，在必要时将负面影响降至最低。这将使我们能够优化加拿大野生动物的保护，同时确保人类健康和安全。 保护加拿大的鸟类物种很重要，因为鸟类对害虫管理、种子传播、营养循环和其他关键的生态系统服务做出了贡献。因此，监测和确保我们自然界的健康是确保加拿大人健康、安全和福祉的重要组成部分。

COVID-19-related travel restrictions may have many unexpected significant impacts, not just on humans, but also on wildlife. This includes many avian species at risk, such as Canada warblers, red-headed warblers, and barn swallows. This of key significance to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the federal department that manages and conserves migratory birds and Species at Risk, as travel restrictions might have unintended consequences on the species for which this department is responsible. Vehicular traffic has a range of direct and indirect impacts on many protected avian species, and COVID-19 related restrictions of travel might have either positive impacts (due to decreased noise and traffic mortality) or negative impacts (due to increased abundance and activity levels of predators) on each species. It is thus important to monitor species of concern, to identify bird species that may require active management as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions, quantify impacts of altered traffic, and develop mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts where necessary. This will allow us to optimize the conservation of Canada's wildlife while concurrently ensuring human health and safety. Conserving Canada's bird species is important because birds contribute to pest management, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and other critical ecosystem services. Monitoring and ensuring the health of our natural world is thus an essential component of ensuring the health security and well-being of Canadians.