Hello Readers of WINGS,

We’re excited to share with you a behind-the-scenes look at what we've been up to over the course of the summer and this fall.

Fieldwork for the Space for Birds project continued this summer with Dr. Bondar photographing migratory birds in both Saskatchewan and Ontario. We are also excited to announce the next location of our travelling exhibition, Patterns & Parallels: The Great Imperative to Survive - don't miss your chance to see it in person! Plus, we’re delighted to celebrate the most recent winners of the EcoSchools, Summer Camp, Wilderness, and Lake Association Bondar Challenges.

Read on to catch up on our current projects and programs!

After a winter of photographing migratory birds in their wintering grounds in Florida, in June Dr. Bondar and RBF Board Chair, Bonnie Patterson travelled to Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan to work with Katelyn Luff, Senior Avian Ecologist of the provincial Water Security Agency (WSA).



Photo left shows Dr. Bondar with Senior Avian Ecologist Katelyn Luff of the Water Security Agency at Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan



The circumcinctus subspecies of Piping Plover is listed as endangered, primarily because their nests are made in a scrape on the beach, and given their natural camouflage and small size they are very easily trampled by humans, recreational vehicles, and dogs. With wire enclosures, the WSA protects several Piping Plover nests located through their annual census work on various parts of the Lake Diefenbaker shoreline, all contributing to Piping Plover population monitoring. Dr. Bondar was able to photograph some very young chicks already running about and foraging along the stony shores. This opportunity highlighted some of the important species at-risk work being done by the talented scientists of the WSA. 

While at Lake Diefenbaker, Dr. Bondar also participated in a one-on-one interview in the field to discuss the important water security work of the WSA. For example, one year when there was flooding, they were able to relocate Piping Plover nests to higher ground to save the eggs. The WSA works diligently with the community along Lake Diefenbaker to balance the needs of animal populations and human recreational interests during this critical nesting period. The lake and lakeshore are popular destinations for recreation.

The photo above top shows the wire cages used to help protect the nests, while the photo above bottom shows the survey stakes the researchers use to guide them to the nests in this very stony habitat along the shoreline.

Photo above left: Dr. Bondar at Lake Diefenbaker; Photo above right: L-R Board Chair Prof. Bonnie Patterson, Katelyn Luff of the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA), and Dr. Roberta Bondar 

Photo above left shows Chaplin Lake, Saskatchewan with salt around the edges

In the photo above right Janine McManus bands and collects data on a Pipit at Chaplin Lake

The RBF also conducted fieldwork in Saskatchewan at Chaplin Lake in early June with support from Wildlife Biologist Dr. Janet Ng and her shorebird and grassland teams from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Prairie Region of Environment and Climate Change Canada. This salt lake lies an hour west of Moose Jaw, in the south-west corner of Saskatchewan, part of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America.

The main focus was photographing two of our focal species — the Piping Plover and Sprague’s Pipit during their breeding and nesting season. We appreciated the opportunity to tap into the research team's shorebird survey work and grasslands banding and tagging program (with Motus tags - miniaturized tags that transmit information to stations such as cell towers). The majority of Piping Plovers in Canada, belonging to the circumcinctus subspecies, breed in the prairie provinces, primarily Saskatchewan. 

Photo above: The Environment Canada team at Chaplin Lake. L-R Nathaniel, Madeline, Alexia, Teegan,

Roberta, Janine, Erica and Amy

Later in June, Dr. Bondar's fieldwork focus was on the Great Lakes Piping Plover population, photographing a 7-day-old Piping Plover chick, the only chick that hatched from a four-egg nest on the shoreline of Georgian Bay. The banded adults (affectionately named Ollie and Patty) are now headed on their migration south, where Patty (blue band 105, banded in Wasaga Beach as a chick in 2020) often winters on the shorelines of Outback Key in Florida.

Photo left: Endangered Piping Plover on the Great Lakes Shoreline.

In addition to the research being conducted as part of the RBF's extensive Space for Birds project, the photos and background information compiled from field work such as this will play an integral role in educational initiatives arising from the project, including our travelling exhibition.

We are excited to partner with the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan to take the Patterns & Parallels travelling exhibition west of Ontario for the first time! Check out the photos below for a behind the scenes look at RBF's Program and Research Coordinator installing the exhibition at SSC.

Dr. Bondar's spectacular photography of at-risk migratory birds and their habitats will include four new images taken in Saskatchewan and Georgian Bay of the endangered Piping Plover. We are thrilled to debut these images in Saskatchewan, the province that hosts the largest number of breeding Piping Plovers in the country! The exhibition will be on display at the SSC from September 17 to November 14, 2025. Dr. Bondar will be speaking at a special event on October 24, 2025. Stay tuned to RBF's social media channels for more details!

The Lake Association Bondar Challenge ran for the third time this August. This version of the Bondar Challenge is run with the Halls and Hawk Lakes Property Owners Association who utilize the Bondar Challenge resources to teach local youth photography skills, while they also enjoy and learn about the natural environment in their area. The ages of participants ranged from 6 to 14 years old.

Some of the amazing photographs that were taken are included below!

Winning Entry: Charlotte's photo "Log with Spiders"

Honourable Mention: Katie's photo "Hand Reaching Out to Flower"

Honourable Mention: Rhys' photo "Monarch Caterpillar"

Honourable Mention: Isla's photo "Water on Green Leaves"

The judging panel has reviewed the Bondar Challenge submissions from the 2024-2025 school year, and selected the winners!

Out of 322 submissions from 202 schools, 30 finalists were selected for judging, and nine winners were chosen. Visit the link below to see the winning photographs!



Photo Left: "Le rouge-gorge très mignon" by Xiaoxiao, Halton District School Board

Photo Above: "Flower Mushroom", Grade 7 Ruby Level Winner

We had a very busy summer camp season, with ten camps participating in the Bondar Challenge. We were delighted to have three new camps join us for the first time! This is the highest participation since the camp closures due to the pandemic in 2020.

We received a total of 148 photo submissions to the competition across our four GEM level categories, and our judging panel has selected 26 winners. Click the button below to check out the winning photographs!

The culmination of over ten years of field research, Space for Birds by Dr. Roberta Bondar has been launched to outstanding reviews. The book provides unique insights into at-risk migratory bird species, represented by the endangered Whooping Crane of the Western Hemisphere and the near threatened Lesser Flamingo of the Eastern Hemisphere. Containing over 180 of Dr. Bondar's spectacular high-resolution photographs, Space for Birds takes the reader on a visual journey of the scope and scale of avian migration and requisite habitats, uniquely presented from the outer space, aerial, and surface perspectives.

The winner of a Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Science, Nature & Environment category, and one of Heather's Picks at Indigo Books, Space for Birds is sure to delight anyone on your gift list this coming holiday season. Order your copy today!

Circle 129 is a community of the Roberta Bondar Foundation that was launched on January 22, 2022, at the 30th Anniversary event of Dr. Bondar's historic spaceflight. Supporters include people from various parts of the world who share Dr. Bondar’s belief in the importance of inquiry, creativity, and the conservation of our natural world.

The significant and ongoing commitment of these individuals ensures that the organization can undertake long-term programming and seize opportunities that make a positive impact. Join Circle 129 and enjoy unique opportunities to connect and learn with the RBF community.

Donations to RBF are put into action to decrease the growing nature deficit in society and inspire conservation of our natural world. Together we can make great strides in addressing the growing challenges of declining biodiversity, habitat loss, and a changing climate. Please take a moment and make your gift today using the secure form below.

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