Spring Surprize

This past spring was notable not for the number of birds FLAP picked up (in the 700 range), but for the abrupt budget cuts made to municipal services by the City of Toronto.

The birds took a direct hit when Toronto Humane Society (THS) emergency drivers were all laid off on April 1st. No longer were security guards in the downtown office towers able to call on THS to come pick up the stunned kinglet, rail or wren some kind soul had rescued over the course of the working day.

Michael Mesure went into action, organizing a network of volunteers (many of them now doing double duty after their dawn patrols) to visit six holding stations in the major towers three times a day. Some 50 birds were rescued thanks to the program which helped educate security guards and office staff about the issue and got more people involved.

Many thanks to the volunteers who participated - and the dawn-patrollers too! New recruits are, of course, always welcome!

The proposed FLAP logo of stylized birds flying inside a globe that was pictured on the front cover of Touching Down, Spring 2001 issue, received somewhat mixed reviews. It reminded most people of a beachball. One even commented that it looked like a swastika at first glance!

So back to the drawing board… and this time Mike Mesure produced an exquisite design that demonstrates our efforts to lift our migratory birds above and beyond the dangers posed by out built environment.