This spring, Toronto is literally turning its switch over to save more than 25 million birds.
With millions of migratory birds expected to pass through the city this season, Toronto is asking residents and businesses to extinguish unnecessary light from the night to prevent fatal window collisions.
The Lights Out Toronto campaign, which takes place during the transition season from mid-March to early June to mid-August to early November to early November to early November, aims to be a safer stopover for birds.
“Nighttime migratory birds are often depicted in urban areas by city light and fatally collide with the construction of windows that are not seen there,” the campaign warns.
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Toronto sits on a major bird travel route along Lake Ontario and makes it a major rest stop. However, window collisions kill 16-42 million birds each year by flying them into the window, according to the Canadian government website.
According to the city, bright light in urban areas is harmless to us, but according to the city it can be fatal to these feathered animals.
However, there are simple and effective modifications.
Reducing light pollution is one of the easiest ways that Torontonians can help.
As part of the campaign, the city is urging people to turn off lights that aren’t for safety. If the lights are on, I close the curtains at night, reduce decoration or atrium lighting, and skip strobe lights when possible.
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Many migratory bird species in North America have already declined due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticides and building collisions, according to the City of Toronto website.
Organizations like Flap Canada (the deadly light recognition program) say window strikes are the main reason why 300 million birds are in the sky compared to 25 years ago.
Since 2006, the city has led the path of bird-friendly policy by demanding new developments to use safer lighting and bird-safe glass designs.
The campaign also recommends that you slowly place the stunned bird in a box or paper bag with tissue and contact the Toronto Wildlife Centre.
When the weather starts to warm up in preparation for summer, turning the switch over at night might be a bright idea. Something that can help millions of birds go home.
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