City of Toronto kicks off “Lights Out Toronto” campaign to protect migratory birds

Toronto’s metropolitan features, like other large urban areas, pose dangers to migratory birds. (Photo By SkiEngineer/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

By City of Toronto

The arrival of spring in Toronto is the start of one of two annual migration seasons that bring millions of birds travelling through the city.

Toronto’s metropolitan features, like other large urban areas, pose dangers to migratory birds. An estimated 25 million birds are killed each year across Canada due to collisions with building windows.

To protect birds during their migration, the City of Toronto is launching its annual “Lights Out Toronto” campaign to address incidents with building windows during the spring (April 1 to May 31) and fall (September 1 to October 31) migration seasons.

The campaign encourages the public to participate in “Lights Out Toronto” by turning off lighting not intended for security or safety reasons during the nighttime. By turning off non-essential lights in buildings, Toronto can be a leader in reducing the number of collisions and protect important species of migratory birds.

The “Lights Out Toronto” campaign encourages Toronto residents and businesses to:
• turn off interior lighting at night, especially on higher floors
• close window coverings at night if lights must be kept on
• turn off exterior decorative lighting, pot lights and flood lights when not in use
• substitute strobe lighting and reduce atrium lighting whenever possible
• install automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible.

Toronto was the first city in North America to officially adopt migratory bird protection policies such as requirements for new developments to have bird-friendly design features and glass. The “Lights Out Toronto” campaign is one measure in a series of planning policies designed to create greener, more sustainable communities for both residents and wildlife.

More information about this campaign is available on the City’s “Lights Out Toronto” webpage.

More information about bird biodiversity in Toronto and more tips to help protect birds is available through the City’s Biodiversity Series.

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on X , Instagram or Facebook.