Renewing Official Recognition of Toronto as a Certified Bird Friendly City - by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, seconded by Councillor Paula Fletcher

One of the requirements of the application is formal municipal support through Council resolution. City Council at its April 7 and 8, 2021 meeting adopted MM31.22- Officially Recognizing Toronto as a Certified Bird Friendly City . Nature Canada certified Toronto through the stakeholder-led application process. Endorsement by City Council must now be renewed for an updated application and certification process. Toronto was the first city in North America to establish bird-friendly policies and many cities in Canada and the United States have since followed suit. All new City development projects must adhere to Toronto Green Standard Version 4, which includes bird collision deterrence measures such as bird-friendly glazing. The City implements the life-saving practice of turning off unnecessary lighting at City-owned facilities during bird migration seasons. And the City leads the Lights Out Toronto campaign, encouraging residents, businesses, and building owners across Toronto to turn off non-essential nighttime lighting during migration seasons. The City of Toronto has also developed various plans and strategies to protect biodiversity and natural habitat in and around the City, which is essential for birds to thrive as they return to Canadian landscapes during their breeding seasons. Every May, the City of Toronto participates in the Toronto Bird Celebration, a two week long celebration of birds, culminating in the Colonel Sam Smith Bird Festival, co-hosted by the City of Toronto and community partners. A Bird Friendly City certification strengthens a municipality's legacy as a champion for bird conservation and celebrates the efforts of a municipality, as well as the local community organizations, to protect birds in their own backyards.