Patricia Seaton Homonylo's Image

Patricia Seaton Homonylo (Canada) highlights the scale of bird collisions in Toronto.

These are the 3,900 birds from 103 species that died after flying into windows in the Greater Toronto Area in 2022. They include more than 500 golden-crowned kinglets and a wild turkey at the centre of the display.

These birds were collected by volunteers from Canada’s Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP). They patrol the streets during the peak migration times in spring and autumn to look for birds that have died and those that have survived and need rehabilitation.

It is estimated that more than one billion birds die from bird strikes on windows every year in North America alone. According to Patricia, these deaths are preventable: “Turn out the lights and use bird-safe glass.”

How you can help

• Look at your windows from outside to spot potential risks. In the daytime, reflections of sky, branches or other objects can confuse birds. If you can see these things when you look at your windows, they could be a risk to birds.
• Use decorative stickers to help birds understand that the windows are there. Alternatively, you could mark the windows using soap or tempera paint, which is washable and non-toxic. Or think about getting a window screen or a net for birds to bounce off without getting harmed.
• Turn off lights at night-time. When it’s dark outside, close your curtains or blinds so that birds don’t get confused by indoor lighting.
• See more ways to help birds in towns and cities.