Torontonians encouraged to protect birds during city’s Lights Out campaign

Published Sep 06, 2024  •  1 minute read

Toronto downtown is seen in the early evening. Photo by intuilapse / iStock /Getty Images

It’s another sign fall is fast approaching.

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The City of Toronto has began its Lights Out Toronto awareness campaign, which stretches until Oct. 31, in connection with the beginning of one of two annual bird migration seasons.

The city says millions of birds travel through Toronto, which is an important rest stop during their journey south. And like other urban areas, the city poses a danger to migratory birds.

It’s estimated a million birds are killed each year in the Greater Toronto Area and 25 million across Canada due to collisions with building windows as they are often drawn by city lights and confused by reflections and transparency of glass, leading to fatal collisions.

As part of the campaign, city officials are encouraging residents and businesses to turn off exterior decorative lighting, pot lights and flood lights when not in use.

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Other suggestions include using dark sky compliant exterior lighting that is directed downward, turning off interior lighting at night when not in use, closing window coverings at night if lights must be kept on, install automatic motion sensors and controls on lighting wherever possible, and learn how to use window treatments to make glass visible to birds.

Toronto was the first city in North America to officially adopt migratory bird protection policies, according to officials.

The city said properties operated by its divisions, agencies and corporations will follow the seasonal practice of turning off non-essential lights during the two annual bird migration periods with exceptions for special events or critical operations.

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