It is estimated that every…

It is estimated that every year, about 25 million birds are killed by colliding with windows in Canada.1 FLAP Canada has documented birds from 173 species – including 24 species at risk – colliding with buildings in the Greater Toronto Area alone, yet the risk to birds extends throughout the Province of Ontario. There are proven, affordable solutions to this problem. In 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks funded the development of the Canadian Standards Association A460:19 Bird-friendly building design standard, which was later endorsed by the Ontario Association of Architects.2 However, the standard remains voluntary in Ontario.

The Building Code should be revised to incorporate the Bird Collision Mitigation Strategies from CSA A460:19, including the appropriate use of visual markers, specifications for window glazing and glass railings, and building-integrated structures. Implementing bird friendly design in new buildings typically represents a negligible (< 1%) increase in overall construction cost and does not impede development. By mandating bird-friendly building construction measures, Ontario could significantly reduce this leading source of bird mortality. In so doing, it could make meaningful progress on its stated goal of protecting species and supporting conservation efforts to preserve Ontario’s rich biodiversity (Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan).

There are so many threats to our wildlife and changing building codes is a very easy step to save millions of lives. As a bird rescue volunteer for FLAP, this past fall I had to pick up over 200 birds from a single building. It was completely horrendous to witness. Better building codes are needed to assure the health of our urban ecosystems.