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$200 million in savings in two easy steps- Funding for Leaside rink takes centre ice
A makeover for our green spaces 
Public opinion sought on video advertising
Dangerous drivers curbed in Thornhill
Creating a better Vaughan for the future
Creating civic pride in Richmond Hill
Plant a tree — with the town’s help
Reflecting on the past, looking to the future
Difficult summer for North York residents
New regulations take flight
Markham working to protect birds from hitting windows
VALERIE BURKE Ward 1 Councillor
THE ARRIVAL OF birds, the harbingers of spring, is always welcome! Birds consume billions of insects daily, pollinate plants and disperse seeds. They are critical to a healthy ecosystem. Sadly, migratory bird populations are declining because of habitat loss, pesticide use, collisions with buildings and other reasons.
During the day, birds often hit windows because they see the reflection of trees or sky as real and don’t understand that a window is an obstacle. At night, migrating birds that use the moon and stars as navigational tools may be confused by the brightly- lit urbanized areas they pass over and end up hitting the buildings. The City of Toronto has been working with the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) to alleviate these problems (for details, go to www.flap.org).
Now, Markham council will adopt bird-friendly building guidelines similar to those in Toronto to prevent thousands of needless deaths. The guidelines suggest numerous ways in which windows can be designed to appear as solid objects — such as glass block or through the application of opaque window film. It is essential that the first 12 metres of a mirrored building be rendered bird-friendly because many city trees reach this height. When possible, especially on tall buildings, lights should be turned off at night (motion sensors are an excellent way to achieve this).
Outdoor lights should be shielded from shining up into the sky so as not to contribute to light pollution. All new buildings for the Town of Markham will incorporate bird-friendly, dark-sky design standards, and council is planning to broaden this initiative.
I am always available to answer your inquiries at 905-479-7747 or vburke@markham.ca.
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