Bird Friendly City

What's New?

Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count!

People from all over the world participate in this four-day event for birds! Your observations will help scientists learn more about the migration patterns of birds, and these pattern's year-to-year changes and long-term trends in Vaughan. 

Participate over the long weekend, from Friday, Feb. 14 to Monday, Feb. 17, by:

• watching birds for 15 minutes or more at least once over the four days - keep track of time and place.
• identifying all the birds you see and hear.

• sharing your sightings using the Merlin App or eBird (App or online)*. All entries over the four days count towards the Great Backyard Bird Count.

   

*Please note the City of Vaughan is not collecting any personal information or data. In order to participate, you must report bird sightings to a third-party app or website. The City of Vaughan is not affiliated with any of these Apps or websites.

If you already use Merlin or eBird, all entries over the four days count towards the Great Backyard Bird Count. You do not need to register or sign-up separately.

Choosing a location

You can watch and count birds from anywhere! Yards, porches, city streets, parks, schools, nature centres/reserves, woodlots, places of worship - any place where there are birds.

Using the Merlin ID App - for help identifying birds

For beginners or novice birders, the Merlin ID App lets you explore pictures and sounds to help identify birds. Once in the App, follow these directions:

1. Install a Bird Pack - use "Canada: East". Note, this will be one of the first steps the App prompts you to complete and will recommend a region.
2. Sign in, or create a Cornell Lab account. Select "Settings" at the bottom of the home screen, and then "Sign In". If you have previously participated in Great Backyard Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, or submitted to eBird then you likely already have an account.
3. Use the tools listed below to help you identify birds - once you are confident that you have identified a bird correctly, always click "This is my bird", select your location and choose to save with Merlin!
   1. Sound ID: If you require help identifying birds you hear (based on their songs/calls), select the green "Sound" button from the home screen, to capture the sounds of birds. Tap the red button to stop the recording. Once you are confident of the bird, based on the recording, select "This is my bird". 
   2. Step by Step: If you require help identifying birds you see, select the "Step by Step" button. You will be prompted to report information about the birds you see, for example the size, main colours and where the bird was seen. Scroll through the options of birds, and once you are confident of the bird, select "This is my bird".
   3. Photos: If you are able to take a picture of a bird, select "Photo ID", and follow the steps prompted by the App.

For experienced birders that don't need help identifying birds, you can submit sightings directly from "Explore". Make sure you always tap the "This is my bird" button and identify your location before saving with Merlin.

For more detailed information on how to submit sightings, visit https://www.birdcount.org/merlin-bird-id-app/

Using eBird - for experienced birders

The eBird App is an easy way to report the birds you find, if you do not need help identifying them. Note that if you already use eBird to report sightings then you already have a Cornell Lab account; sign in to your account. Once in the App, follow these steps:

1. Tap "Start Checklist" and adjust date and time based on your sightings.
2. Enter every species that you see or hear and can identify, as well as the number of individuals observed.
3. When you are done birding, select "Stop", choose your location and provide details about your birding session. If you observed birds in one place, select "Stationary", if you went for a walk then select "Travelling".
4. Review and submit your checklist. A complete checklist includes every species you are able to identify by sight or sound, you do not need to include counts for every species. 
5. If you do not have reception, select "Close" instead of submit. Checklists can be found on the "Not Submitted" tab of the Checklists screen.

For detailed information on how to use the App, visit https://www.birdcount.org/ebird-mobile-app/.

For information on how to submit using a computer, visit https://www.birdcount.org/ebird-on-computer/

Calling all building or business owners!

If you currently have window treatments or light pollution mitigating strategies, or other bird-friendly practices, please let us know by emailing environment@vaughan.ca. This will go a long way to help maintain the Bird Friendly City certification.

• Window treatments as outlined in Vaughan's Bird Safe Design Standards
• Light pollution mitigation strategies (DarkSky compliant lighting, shielded and downward-directed fixtures, limited exterior lighting to where required for safety and security), as outlined in Vaughan’s Bird Safe Design Standards

• Other: sell bird friendly coffee, chocolate or paper products (certifications like Bird-Friendly, Rainforest Alliance, Forestry Stewardship Council)

   

Join Project FeederWatch

FeederWatch is a November-April survey of birds, through Birds Canada, that visit backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. You don’t even need a feeder! All you need is an area from which you like to watch birds. Plus, the schedule is completely flexible: you can count every week or once all winter, for as much or as little time as you like. For more information, visit feederwatch.org. 

What is the City doing to protect birds?

In the last 50 years, North American bird populations have dropped by more than 25 percent and 3 million birds, including species that live in towns and cities, are gone due to predation by domestic cats as well as car/window collisions. Birds are also affected by a changing climate, for example, changing temperatures can affect the timing of food availability and migration patterns.

Vaughan has successfully become a Bird-friendly City! On June 18, 2022, Council passed a Member’s Resolution to endorse the City’s efforts to become a Bird-friendly City, through Nature Canada, and in May 2023, at a Committee Meeting, the City was presented with a Bird Friendly City certification from Nature Canada.

Nature Canada has developed a standard to certify eligible cities as a “Bird-friendly City” to recognize and celebrate the contributions they have made to save bird lives in their municipalities. Certification is a badge of honour and a source of community pride. It tells the world that Vaughan protects birds and reduces the amount of unnecessary bird deaths within the city. The City met the criteria and received the official certification during the May 30, 2023, Committee of the Whole (1) meeting.

The City is currently executing bird-friendly activities related to threat reduction, habitat protection and restoration. Below are examples of these activities:

• In June 2022, Council endorsed that Bird-Safe Design Standards (PDF) be a requirement for all new private and City-owned developments, through the Sustainability Metrics Program.
• The City’s Animal Control By-law (066-2020) outlines guidelines about licensing cats, running at large and leash requirements.
• LED streetlight retrofit program will see the installation of lights which are Dark Sky Compliant, assisting to reduce light pollution.
•  Bylaw 88-2008 regulates the use of harmful pesticides on public and private property.
• Tree Protection Bylaw 052-2018 and Tree Protection Protocol regulates the planting, maintenance and removal of trees on public and private property. The City has also developed its first Urban Forestry Management Plan that provides recommendations on how to increase our urban tree canopy.

• Through the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and various pollinator projects, the City is committed to planting and protecting pollinator habitat, including the habitat of birds.

   

Migrating Birds

In the spring and fall, when birds are migrating, they are at risk of colliding into windows and buildings. During the day, birds can see through glass and what is reflected on the glass, but cannot see the glass itself. Birds may be attracted to the landscape that is reflected in windows, or a tree that’s on the other side of a window, and fly straight into windows.

At night, bright, artificial light confuse birds that use light from the moon, setting sun and stars to navigate. Lights in urban areas may draw birds down to lower levels, where they can collide with buildings.

Bird safe design treatments and lighting controls can be incorporated into our homes, and building design, to mitigate bird collisions. Some examples include:

• make your entire window look like a barrier to birds using window treatments or coverings. Apply a dense pattern of markings (small dots, squares, lines) to the outside of your window; taep, ribbons or string are effective options. Follow guidelines from FLAP Canada.
• Move bird feeders as close to a window as possible. If a bird leaving the feeder accidentally flies into a window, it’s less likely to have gained enough momentum to injure itself.

• Be aware of light pollution at night: draw blinds, turn off outdoor lights if not needed for security/safety, avoid creating pools or spots of light that could attract birds.

   

World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in May as migratory birds journey to nesting sites. It is an opportunity for the City to share why protecting birds is so important. In 2024, the theme was Insects. 

Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations. Along their migration routes, birds actively seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers. The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys. Visit migratorybirdday.org for more information.

Below are eight simple ways to protect insects:

• Insect-Friendly Gardening: Growing native plants attracts and supports local insect populations.
• Support Organic: Choosing organic products reduces the demand for agricultural practices that harm insects.
• Minimize Habitat Destruction: Be mindful of the impact of landscaping and development. 
• Leaf Litter: Leaving leaves undisturbed provides shelter and food for insects.
• Water Cleanliness: Using eco-friendly cleaning products prevents harmful chemicals from affecting aquatic insects. 
• Education: Sharing knowledge about the significance of insects can inspire others to take action.
• Appreciation: Celebrating the positive roles of insects encourages a broader cultural shift towards their protection. 

Interested in birding?

Birding versus birdwatching. Birdwatching is passive, you can participate from your kitchen by looking out the window or sitting in the park. It involves simply watching, and marveling, at the birds that come and go. Birding is active. Birders pursue birds, often travelling to get to a location known for certain bird species. Birding usually involves using binoculars to spot birds and keeping track of the number of birds and species in a particular location. 

The Vaughan Bird Team is on a mission to confirm birding hotspots across the city. As the locations are visited, the list below will be updated. Everyone is encouraged to go out to the locations and see how many birds, and what species, you can find.

Vaughan confirmed birding locations are listed in the chart below. For additional locations, check out eBird, an online community science platform the documents bird species and locations across the world. Destination Ontario provides a list of the best birding and bird watching locations in Ontario.

Birding resources

1. Birds Canada has an online bird identification tool that can be filtered by region and time of year
2. iNaturalist has a list of the birds of Ontario
3. eBird has an interactive map to explore birding hotspots and species

Looking for ways to help protect Vaughan’s bird population?