Toronto – The arrival of fall marks the beginning of one of two annual bird migration seasons that sees millions of birds travelling through Toronto, which serves as an important rest stop during their journey south. Toronto, like other urban areas, poses dangers to migratory birds – with an estimated 25 million birds killed each year across Canada due to collisions with building windows.
“Lights Out Toronto” campaign
To protect birds during their migration this season, the City of Toronto is launching its fall “Lights Out Toronto” campaign – a city-wide initiative to address the issue of migratory bird collisions with building windows, which runs until October 31.
As part of the campaign, Toronto residents and businesses are encouraged to:
- Turn off exterior decorative lighting, pot lights and flood lights when not in use.
- Use Dark Sky compliant exterior lighting that is directed downward and that avoids light trespass beyond the necessary area.
- Turn off interior lighting at night when not in use.
- Close window coverings at night if lights must be kept on.
- Install automatic motion sensors and controls on lighting wherever possible.
- Learn how to use window treatments to make glass visible to birds.
More information about how to protect migratory birds is available on the City’s “Lights Out Toronto” website.
Leading the way for migratory bird protection policies
Toronto was the first city in North America to officially adopt migratory bird protection policies such as requirements for new development in the city that include bird-friendly design for lighting features and glass outlined in the Toronto Green Standard.
City to turn off non-essential lighting during bird migration seasons
Reinforcing the City’s commitment to addressing the significant threat of bird collisions with buildings and windows in Toronto, properties operated by City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations will follow the seasonal practice of turning off non-essential lights during the two annual bird migration periods. Non-essential lighting includes illumination not required for property standards or safety and security purposes. Exceptions for special events or critical operations are permitted.
During their spring and fall migrations, birds are prone to colliding with buildings as they navigate through urban environments, often drawn by city lights and confused by reflections and transparency of glass, leading to fatal collisions. It is one of the top sources of human-caused bird mortality despite being easily preventable. Most collisions are not noticed, so even one injured or dead bird below a window shows there is a problem.
Birds are vital to the ecosystem, playing essential roles such as controlling insect populations, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. A healthy bird population contributes to Toronto’s ecological balance and biodiversity.
The “Lights Out Toronto” campaign underscores the City’s commitment to protecting biodiversity by aligning with Toronto City Council direction, the Official Plan, the Toronto Green Standard and the Biodiversity Strategy. Bird protection policies have been required under the Toronto Green Standard for all site plan applications as of January 1, 2010.
The Official Plan is available on the City’s website. More information on the Toronto Green Standard is available on the City’s website. More information on the Biodiversity Strategy 
is available on the City’s website.