Bird Friendly City

In the last 50 years, North American bird populations have dropped by more than 25 percent and 3 million birds, including species that live in towns and cities, are gone due to predation by domestic cats as well as car/window collisions. Birds are also affected by a changing climate, for example, changing temperatures can affect the timing of food availability and migration patterns.

What is the City doing to protect birds?

Vaughan has successfully become a Bird-friendly City! On June 18, 2022, Council passed a Member’s Resolution to endorse the City’s efforts to become a Bird-friendly City, through Nature Canada, and in May 2023, at a Committee Meeting, the City was presented with a Bird Friendly City certification from Nature Canada.

Nature Canada has developed a standard to certify eligible cities as a “Bird-friendly City” to recognize and celebrate the contributions they have made to save bird lives in their municipalities. Certification is a badge of honour and a source of community pride. It tells the world that Vaughan protects birds and reduces the amount of unnecessary bird deaths within the city. 

The City met the criteria and received the official certification during the May 30, 2023, Committee of the Whole (1) meeting.

The City is currently executing bird-friendly activities related to threat reduction, habitat protection and restoration. Below are examples of these activities:

• In June 2022, Council endorsed that Bird-Safe Design Standards (PDF) be a requirement for all new private and City-owned developments, through the Sustainability Metrics Program.
• The City’s Animal Control By-law (066-2020) outlines guidelines about licensing cats, running at large and leash requirements.
• LED streetlight retrofit program will see the installation of lights which are Dark Sky Compliant, assisting to reduce light pollution.
•  Bylaw 88-2008 regulates the use of harmful pesticides on public and private property.
• Tree Protection Bylaw 052-2018 and Tree Protection Protocol regulates the planting, maintenance and removal of trees on public and private property. The City is also working on an Urban Forestry Management Plan that will provide recommendations on how to increase our urban tree canopy.

• Through the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and various pollinator projects, the City is committed to planting and protecting pollinator habitat, including the habitat of birds.

   

World Migratory Bird Day

 World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in May as migratory birds journey to nesting sites. It is an opportunity for the City to share why protecting birds is so important. This year, the theme is Insects. 

Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations. Along their migration routes, birds actively seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers. The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys. Visit migratorybirdday.org for more information.

Below are eight simple ways to protect insects:

• Insect-Friendly Gardening: Growing native plants attracts and supports local insect populations.
• Support Organic: Choosing organic products reduces the demand for agricultural practices that harm insects.
• Minimize Habitat Destruction: Be mindful of the impact of landscaping and development. 
• Leaf Litter: Leaving leaves undisturbed provides shelter and food for insects.
• Water Cleanliness: Using eco-friendly cleaning products prevents harmful chemicals from affecting aquatic insects. 
• Education: Sharing knowledge about the significance of insects can inspire others to take action.

• Appreciation: Celebrating the positive roles of insects encourages a broader cultural shift towards their protection. 

   

City of Vaughan Event 

Join us on Saturday, May 11 for a birding event! This event is for all ages and birding abilities. Participate in a Big Sit where we will learn about bird identification and count the number of species we see and hear, before going out on a trail walk. 

Register on Eventbrite.

Date: Saturday, May 11

Location: Maple Nature Reserve, 10401 Dufferin St. 

Time: 10 a.m. to noon

What is a Big Sit? Big Sits are counting events with the aim of finding as many species of bird as possible while staying within a defined circle. This event is a learning experience and just for fun! You will be provided with information on what bird species you might expect in Maple Nature Reserve and encouraged to use the eBird app during the event.

How to prepare? This is an outdoor event and will be held rain or shine, so please dress for the weather. Wear proper walking shoes and bring a water bottle. You are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket for the Big Sit.

The City will supply binoculars (please bring your own if you have), bird-materials such as guides and checklists, clipboards and pencils.

Arriving and Parking. Please use the driveway entrance off Dufferin Street, located at 10401 Dufferin St. and follow the road until you reach the parking lot. The event will begin at the field in front of the parking lot and washroom building.

Join Vaughan’s Bird Team

You can help advance City of Vaughan to Bird-friendly Certification! Through Nature Canada, recruitment is underway for the City of Vaughan Bird Team. The Team’s mission is to protect the birds in Vaughan by:

• creating safer urban environments
• mitigating key threats
• protecting and restoring natural habitats
• increasing climate resiliency
• conducting community outreach and education

The Bird Team may consist of naturalist groups, birding clubs, environmental organizations, municipal staff, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, educational institutions, researchers and citizens. No skill level or birding experience is required to participate. Recruitment is open to all Vaughan residents. Interested? View the Vaughan Bird Team Guide (PDF) and email environment@vaughan.ca to begin the process.

Make your home bird-safe

 You can save a great number of birds – at home! Here are some tips:

• Plant a native, bird-friendly garden as it provides them both shelter and food. Some examples of trees, shrubs and flowers you can plant include maple and oak trees, milkweed, harebell, hawthorn, juniper, dogwoods, coneflowers and black-eyed susans.
• Tweak your daily routine. At night, turn off lights or draw the blinds to prevent light-seeking birds from crashing into windows. You can also mark windows with bird-friendly coverings/tape, to make it visible to them when flying. Refer to FLAP Canada for window covering guidelines.
• Be a conscious consumer. When shopping for items such as coffee, chocolate and paper products, look for certifications like Bird-friendly, Rainforest Alliance or Forestry Stewardship Council; these certifications help protect bird habitats.

Looking for more ways to help protect Vaughan’s bird population?

• Participate in citizen science. Citizen science is a collaborative way to inform scientists about bird observations on a large geographical scale. To participate, you can do your own research and report your findings in a variety of ways: through online databases, local municipality projects and through non-profit organization efforts. Some examples of bird citizen science efforts that you can join are from eBird and Birds Canada.
• Engage with local conservation groups. You might learn a thing or two about birds by supporting local conservation groups and by participating you are directly helping ecosystems in your community. They are a great way to exchange knowledge and use strength in numbers to conserve the bird population.