Hopefully spring has arrived after a brutal winter: the birds are actually singing again! Photographer Judith Gustafsson was on Somerset Street, where she found about six American goldfinches feeding on some spring buds in a tall tree.
by Gail McGuire
Among the heralds of spring is the return of migratory birds to the Ottawa area. Included in our collective joyful anticipation is the sighting of the first beloved robin with its orange-red breast, or the honking of Canada geese drawing our eyes skyward to observe the familiar V-shaped flight pattern of the flock.
Examining our city from a bird’s point of view has led us to consider not only the need for habitat preservation, but also the hazards which birds encounter in our city.
To that end, volunteer groups such as Safe Wings Ottawa have highlighted the injuries and deaths of birds when birds mistake transparent glass for a clear flight path, or are confused by glass which reflects sky and trees.
Safe Wings estimates that 250,000 birds die each year from window collisions.
Those species of birds which migrate for the winter and return in spring, or that migrate through Ottawa to breeding grounds further north, are most at risk of being confused by glass.
Species such as northern cardinals and blue jays remain with us year round. They are somewhat adapted to their urban environment, but they are also sometimes found injured or dead. Young birds are especially vulnerable.
Former city councillor Diane Holmes volunteers with Safe Wings, including at the annual display at City Hall of birds killed by collisions with buildings.
At City Hall on March 20, a European starling was rescued by a Safe Wings volunteer. This poignant incident occurred during a Safe Wings event held at City Hall, where an array of birds that had been victims of window collisions was displayed for public viewing.
While it is not known if the starling was injured as a result of colliding with a window, the bird was found on the ground at the base of a large plate of glass at the eastern side of the building, a location known to Safe Wings for bird collisions.
A Safe Wings volunteer transported the bird to the Wild Bird Care Centre, where it is being treated for a pelvic injury.
Safe Wings volunteers advocate for solutions which have proven effective in reducing the confusion experienced by birds. These solutions include a dotted grid pattern of a certain density, frosted glass where appropriate, and other measures both to retrofit existing buildings or to incorporate into new building designs.
Additionally, they collect statistics on locations of bird injuries or fatalities, and they continue to study these issues.
According to Ottawa Bird Count (ottawabirds.ca), Ottawa has a population of two million birds and 182 distinct species within its urban area.
Birds are significant to the quality of life we experience. They are also significant to the pollination of flowers and food crops. They are also seed distributors and consumers of insect pests.