Nature Canada calls for changes to building design

As part of a campaign to prevent millions of bird deaths each year, Nature Canada is calling on municipal and other governments to change building codes so that buildings are designed to deter birds from crashing into them.

Based on research published October 1, some 269 million birds are killed every year as a result of human-related activities. The research suggests that about 90% of the 269 million birds killed fall under the protection of the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

While cats, agriculture and oil and gas activities cause many deaths, another major cause is collisions with buildings.

To help, developers and designers should use muted reflective surfaces by angling glass or adding awnings or overhangs, says Nature Canada.

Caroline Schultz, Executive Director of Ontario Nature, said in a release: “It’s important that better building standards, including measures to prevent bird deaths, are adopted and enforced by cities across Canada,” adding “These can be really common sense measures like muting reflections in windows, reducing light pollution or providing visual markers.”

Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act and as a signatory to the Migratory Bird Treaty, the federal government has an obligation to conserve migratory bird populations in Canada.