A concerning trend is emerging in Toronto as the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) reveals a rise in the number of birds being injured or killed in collisions with buildings.
According to FLAP’s executive director, nearly 3,000 injured or deceased birds were retrieved from outside several buildings in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in the last 30 days, with a staggering count of over 400 birds collected in just a single 24-hour period.
Michael Mesure, co-founder of FLAP, expressed alarm at the spike, noting, “We’re approaching over 5,000 bird casualties for 2026, a significant increase from previous years where numbers typically hovered around 3,000 to 4,000.”
Contrary to popular belief, Mesure emphasized that the blame should not solely be placed on tall glass buildings. He pointed out that it is the exposure and proximity to natural habitats associated with these structures that pose the greatest danger to birds.
He explained, “Buildings close to densely vegetated areas tend to attract birds, increasing the likelihood of collisions.”
A dedicated team of volunteers from various areas, including Mississauga, Toronto, North York, Scarborough, and Markham, collect and sort the birds for research purposes. Mesure recounted a recent patrol in Markham where he discovered around 60 deceased birds.
FLAP attributes the surge in bird-building collisions to the higher number of birds passing through the GTA during the fall migration, increasing the probability of such incidents occurring.
