A tiny brown Swainson’s Thrush, a colorful Northern Yellow Warbler, and a chubby Veery were discovered deceased on the same day in the heart of Kitchener. It’s likely they perished within moments of each other.
Meredith Blunt, the leader of Bird Friendly Kitchener, came across the lifeless thrush, noting its warmth had not yet dissipated. Since August 2025, Blunt has been monitoring bird fatalities resulting from collisions with windows in downtown Kitchener. She diligently gathers the bodies of various migratory birds, some having journeyed thousands of kilometers.
Blunt has amassed a total of 234 birds, with only two out of the seven found alive surviving rehabilitation. She has identified particular trouble spots, such as the Google, Oracle, and Hall’s Lane buildings with their glass features, as well as the Galleria and the courthouse structures.
To address these issues, Blunt and her team reach out to property managers, caretakers, and security personnel upon identifying hotspots. Despite efforts to arrange meetings, some have failed to materialize, according to Blunt.
Perimeter, the co-owner of the Google building in Kitchener, acknowledged the concerns raised by Blunt and is actively collaborating with their operations team to address the situation. Infrastructure Ontario, responsible for managing the courthouses, also expressed a commitment to integrating bird safety considerations into infrastructure projects.
Inspired by FLAP Canada, a charity based in the Greater Toronto Area, Blunt initiated the project to monitor bird collisions with windows. FLAP Canada’s Global Bird Collision Mapper project gathers data on bird incidents involving window collisions, revealing over 3,200 bird fatalities across Canada since the start of 2026.
Michael Mesure, FLAP Canada’s executive director, highlighted Toronto’s susceptibility to bird collisions due to its topography and abundance of glass structures. Mesure emphasized the need for bird safety measures in residential properties as well, as they also pose a significant threat to birds.
Ryan Norris, an ecologist from the University of Guelph, emphasized the nationwide issue of bird collisions, particularly during spring migration when millions of birds are at risk. He stressed the importance of reducing reflections and light to mitigate dangers for birds.
Blunt recommended residents take action by installing anti-collision stickers on windows, particularly on homes with multiple stories. Mesure urged advocacy for incorporating bird safety measures into national and provincial building codes to ensure future constructions are bird-friendly.
As advancements in anti-collision stickers evolve, Norris suggested revisiting bylaws to accommodate less conspicuous solutions. He emphasized the need for laws to align with evolving technologies to address bird collision challenges effectively.