Toronto to become more bird-friendly?

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada - The city of Toronto Thursday published its new Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines, a set of practices designed to save some of the up to 10 million migratory birds that die each year in collisions with Toronto's buildings.

Urban night lighting attracts birds and poor weather traps them, which increases the density of migratory birds in urban areas. More migratory birds in the unfamiliar urban environment results in an increased number of bird collisions the following day.

Perhaps you could forward the guidelines' URL to your local planning commission, chamber of commerce, city hall and visitors bureau? Officials might respond favorably if you argue that birders (and their disposable income) like to visit towns and cities that make obvious efforts to help wild birds.