Bird deaths from window collisions are preventable, the city says

Thousands of birds in Toronto fly into windows and die as they travel on the final leg of their annual migration, a death the city says is preventable.

“We're mostly looking at animals with head injuries,” said Dr. Heather Reed, chief veterinarian at the Toronto Wildlife Center (TWC).

These birds are part of the estimated 25 million that fly into windows and die each year in Canada.

Birds can't appreciate glass or reflective surfaces outdoors, Reed explained. As a result, they hit the surface and in some cases die.

According to the City of Toronto, this seasonal increase in deaths is due to the current migration period, which began earlier this month and lasts until the end of May. The journey is thousands of kilometers from Central and South America to breeding grounds in the north.

Already, Reed said TWC has 40 birds recovering from injuries related to head trauma.

“They are being treated for injuries or broken bones or blows. If necessary, they are put on oxygen therapy. They're given the appropriate medications, anti-inflammatories, we basically manage their head injuries, eye injuries and any fractures they have,” Reid said.

According to the Canadian government's prevention guidelines, in addition to preventing animal suffering, birds play an important role in our cities, including pest control, pollination and seed dispersal, which are key to their survival in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Many birds migrate at night, using the stars and the moon to guide their path, which becomes a problem as they approach urban centers.

“They're drawn to the lights of our cities and our buildings, and they get so confused, and they get stuck in the corridors of cities, they often get exhausted, so we see a lot of bird injuries,” Reid said. .

After TWC rehabilitates the birds and they recover from their injuries, they learn to fly outdoors before being released on the other side of town to avoid having to navigate the urban maze.

The City of Toronto is encouraging the public to turn off unnecessary indoor and outdoor lights at night to reduce the number of migratory birds.

For example, last December, the Toronto City Council decided to turn off unnecessary lights in city buildings during the migration season.

TWC recommends covering the window with a pattern or adding visual markers that can be spread over the entire surface to make it more visible to birds.

If you come across an injured bird, TWC recommends gently placing a tea towel or rag over it, placing the bird in a paper bag or small cardboard box, and contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.