COLLISION COURSE: LIGHTS AT NIGHT- A THREAT TO MIGRATING BIRDS

FEATHERED FACTS

Many of Canada's 250 species of migratory birds are in decline. Habitat destruction and pollution threaten them on their breeding grounds in Canada and on their wintering grounds in the U.S. and Latin America. In addition to these threats, millions of birds die or suffer injuries from collisions with buildings lit at night as they journey north and south.More birds are killed each year than died in the Exxon Valdez oil spill and many of these species are known to be in long-term decline, with some already designated as threatened. Every year, some 10,000 birds are killed or injured in Toronto's downtown core alone. but this is one problem that we can solve.

A SIMPLE SOLUTION

By taking a few simple steps, like turning out lights at night, we can prevent this unnecessary toll, and save energy and money, too. Office building managers, owners, tenants and employees share a responsibility to solve this problem. The Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) and World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF) have published a report called Collision Course: The Hazards of Lighted Structures and Windows to Migratory Birds and are working to inform Canadians, especially those who work in office towers, about the dangers of buildings to migratory birds. You can help save migratory birds from collisions with buildings. It's simple. First, turn out lights at night. Second, enroll in the Bird-Friendly Building Program. Here's how:

If you are....a BUILDING MANAGER.....enroll in the Bird-Friendly Building Program. a BUILDING OWNER.......have your Building Manager enroll in the program. an OFFICE TENANT or EMPLOYEE...urge your Building Manager to enroll.

FLAP BIRD-FRIENDLY BUILDING PROGRAM

Our Goal is to reduce migratory bird collisions with buildings brightly lit at night. But we need your help. Office buildings that implement the following action steps as a bird-friendly building and earn the right to display the official FLAP Bird-Friendly Building logo. By following these simple action steps, we can make every building safer for migrating birds.

EDUCATION

Implement the following educational strategies that carry the message about reducing bird collisions with your building:

Elevator News Lobby Signage E-mail migration alert to tenants and staff in spring and fall Educational Displays

LIGHTING CONTROL STRATEGIES

Program building's lighting system to achieve a measurable reduction in night-lighting from 11 PM to 7 AM, or - ideally - ensure that all lights are switched off during that period. Extinguish all exterior vanity lighting (roof-top floods, perimeter spots…) during the migration periods. When lights must be left on at night, examine and adopt alternatives to bright, all-night, floor-wide lighting.

Options include: installing motion-sensitive lighting using desk lamps & task lighting re-programming timers adopting lower intensity lighting

TENANT RELATIONS

Work with reluctant tenants to ensure that they comply with BFB guidelines: coordinate meetings between FLAP and tenants, establish guidelines for tenants, offer incentives to reward positive action. Participate in the BAGS (Bird Action Group Stations) program by setting up stations where concerned tenants and staff can pick up bags, nets, gloves and literature that enable them to rescue birds.

BUILDING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT

Implement measures (window film, netting or other) to prevent birds from hitting windows at ground-level in high-collision areas. Eliminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on your grounds in favor of natural methods of pest control.

STAYING ON COURSE

Report to FLAP on your progress every spring and fall using the e-mailed questionnaire sent out to you early in the season. (This includes providing copies of all educational tools employed and supplying FLAP with light energy consumption data.) Strive for a built environment safe for birds and people by implementing the above-mentioned measures and developing partnerships with neighboring towers to ensure safe passage for night-migrating birds.

For more information please contact: Fatal Light Awareness Program - Royal Bank Plaza, Lower Concourse, PO Box 20, Toronto.Ontario M5J 2J1