05/04/2026
Last week, we welcomed guests to the Alex Trebek Theatre for a screening of Bird Names, a 22-minute documentary from Earth Tones that examines the movement to rename North American bird species named after people.
The film follows a Canadian-led group of birders through the history behind nearly 150 North American bird names, many of which are tied to colonial figures, racism and exclusion in natural history. Through culture, ecology and conservation, Bird Names asks what these names carry forward, and what could change if birds were named in ways that better reflect the species themselves.
Directed by RCGS Fellow Aliya Jasmine and produced by RCGS Fellow Aliza Sovani, the film brings this debate into focus at a time when bird populations are declining and conversations around equity in outdoor spaces remain urgent.
Following the screening, Aliya Jasmine, Aliza Sovani and Tykee James joined Canadian Geographic Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Pope for a Q&A on the making of the film, the politics of naming and the future of bird conservation. The Q&A was followed by a reception, where guests had the chance to connect and continue the conversation.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at 50 Sussex for an evening of film and discussion!
