The City of Toronto has launched its Lights Out campaign to protect and prevent migratory birds from slamming into windows.
According to the city, more than 25 million birds are killed in Canada each year due to slamming into windows, a situation that often occurs in large urban areas.
To prevent that from happening, this spring the city’s campaign is encouraging homeowners and businesses to turn off lights that are not intended for security or safety reasons at night.
“Night-migrating birds are drawn by city lights into urban areas where they often fatally collide with building windows that they cannot see,” the campaign’s webpage states.
In addition to turning off lights, the campaign also suggests closing window coverings at night if lights are left on, turning off exterior decorative lights, and substituting strobe lighting and reducing atrium lighting when possible.
“Toronto can be a leader in reducing the number of collisions and protecting important species of migratory birds,” a media release said.
The Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) Canada is a registered charity which advocates for the protection of birds against building collisions. According to the group, in the United States closer to a billion birds are killed each year due to the collisions.
The group says it’s one of the reasons why three billion fewer birds take to the sky than 25 years ago. The group has pushed for property owners to install several different types of bird safe windows.
If Torontonians do come across birds that have collided with windows, the city has suggested the following.
- Place the bird inside a cardboard box or unwaxed paper bag with tissue to give the bird a perching spot.
- Minimize how much you handle the bird
- Refrain from giving the bird food or water.
- Contact the Toronto Wildlife Centre
- Wash your hands after handling the bird.
According to the city, Toronto has already been leading the way in protecting bird species. The city became the first in North America to adopt bird friendly policies such as requirements for new developments to have bird-friendly design features and glass.
“Birds are also essential to a healthy environment: they consume billions of insects daily, pollinate plants and disperse seeds,” the city said. “By making the city safer for migratory birds, we will be enhancing the natural biodiversity of our urban environment.”
The campaign will run during both the spring and fall migration seasons.
