Helping our feathered friends

October 9, 2015 · 0 Comments

Fall has arrived, and with it, fall migration. Our feathered friends are heading south. A journey they make every year – a journey that some never finish.
Millions of birds die and get injured every year during this strenuous journey. High rise buildings, storms, windows (we have all heard that awful “thump” on a window, going out to find this little tiny ball of feathers lying on the ground).
But there are other much bigger threats. An organization called, ‘FLAP’, or “Fatal Light Awareness Program”, is out every day during migration season in Toronto – the land of high-rises.
It is estimated that 1.5–2 billion birds are killed every year across North America as a result of human activities.
Besides high rise buildings other things are threatening our birds – forestry loss, urban development, agriculture and climate change.
Of course habitat loss and destruction is on top, with numbers huge but unknown, building collisions 1,000,000,000, power lines, 174,000,000, hunting, 120,000,000, house cats, 118,000,000, vehicle collisions, 80,000,000, pesticide poisoning (indirectly), 72,000,000, communication towers, 50,000,000, nuisance bird control, 2,000,000, wind turbines, 400,000, electrocution, 100,000, – and yes, scientific research, still goes on, 20,000.
These numbers represent Canada and the US per year. Absolutely horrible. There are approximately 940,000 buildings in Toronto alone with windows (like mirrors), confusing and trapping the birds, who think there is trees, water, a natural world in which they seek rest and food, turning into a nightmare and even death.
Mostly migrating at night being guided by the stars but also during the day where they get trapped in a maze of glass.
When they hit the ground where predators could be waiting. Flap is there.
Over 60 volunteers patrol the streets before you and I even get up. Picking up birds alive and dead. Then off to wildlife rehabilitation centers for checkups and rehabilitation for those lucky to have survived.
What can we do to help? If you have an hour a day in the early morning hours you could walk around buildings and look for birds on the ground, you put them in a small paper lunch bag and get them to a rehab center. They’ll take it from there.
Contact flap at flap.org to find out more.
See also available products at: featherfriendly.org, collidescape.org or abcbirds.org. Then go to flap.org to see how these items are applied to your windows.
Providing native plants and shrubs, trees and water sources helps birds find much needed rest, food and water while passing through. Canada elderberry is a favorite. And running water features attract warblers to your yard and they get a nice drink and refreshing bath while they are there.
Look into setting up a Flap in your neighborhood. No experience is needed. An hour of your time and compassion for wildlife, a list of wildlife rehabilitators in your neighborhood and a run to the dollar store for a net and paper lunch bags. Then go for an early morning walk and save lives. A little bit goes a long way. Together, we can make a difference.
Check out www.flap.org/bird-safe-buildings.php and help make your home safer for the birds.

By Jennifer Howard