Ovenbird © Robert McCaw
The Issue
One of the biggest threats to birds during spring and fall migration is the possibility of colliding with windows. The estimated yearly death toll from window collisions is horrific – and unacceptable:
- 1 million in the Greater Toronto Area
- 25 million in Canada
- 1 billion in North America
During the day, especially at first light when daytime migrants are most active, birds will fly towards window glass that reflects the sky or nearby trees or shrubs. Mistaking these reflections for habitat, they collide with the glass, resulting in injury or death.
At night, extensive lighting of tall structures can also be a fatal attraction, causing nighttime migrants to hit buildings.
Bald eagle © Bill McDonald
How You Can Help
- Donate to our work protecting migratory birds
- Bird-proof your windows. There are many affordable window markers available that have proven to be effective in significantly reducing bird collisions with buildings.
- Help an injured bird. Gently place it in an unwaxed paper bag or cardboard box, in a quiet location and contact a wildlife rehabilitator for further instructions.
- Report a bird/window collision to increase understanding of this problem using FLAP Mapper.
- Become a FLAP bird rescue volunteer.
- Keep your cats indoors.
Great blue heron © Peter Ferguson
What We Are Doing
Ontario Nature has been working with FLAP Canada and Ecojustice to address bird strikes through public education and advocacy since 2010. We are asking the Government of Ontario to enact regulatory measures to deal with light reflected from the windows of tall commercial buildings.
Legal action resulted in a 2013 Ontario court ruling that deemed light reflected from building windows to be a “contaminant” under the Environmental Protection Act. The Province has yet to act on the court findings.
Bird strike casualty © Sep Ghafouri