Legislate Window Deterrents for Birds Now

We, the undersigned, call on the City of Saskatoon to recognize the urgent need to protect our bird population in Saskatoon. Northern flickers, black-capped chickadees, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, bluejays, Virginia rails, belted kingfishers, American robins, common nighthawks, Swainson's thrushes, rose-breasted grosbeaks, dark-eyed juncos, yellow warblers, house sparrows, cedar waxwings, common yellowthroats, orange-crowned warblers, merlins, downy woodpeckers, common grackles, black-billed magpies, bohemian waxwings, ovenbirds, Lincoln's sparrows, Tennessee warblers, spotted towhees, house wrens, and white-throated sparrows—116 in total—perished in 2023 due to window collisions.

Mandate the use of window deterrents in all new buildings. This action is critical to make Saskatoon bird-friendly and curb the rising toll of preventable bird deaths. Birds, migratory or resident, face danger from invisible windows throughout the year.

Act now! We demand the City of Saskatoon legislate bird-safe building designs, aligning with the American Bird Conservancy's guidelines. Draw inspiration from the protective measures in Calgary, Markham, Toronto, and Vancouver. Collaborate with local avian groups like Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation to enact these vital policies.