Every year in Canada, between 16 and 42 million birds die from colliding with windows.  In an effort to bring that statistic down, speakers from various nature organizations urged Saskatoon’s Environment Committee to do something about its own headquarters: City Hall. Mercy Harris with Bird Safe Saskatoon says the north side of the building is one of the worst places in the city for birds colliding with windows. 

“This fall, Bird Safe Saskatoon wanted to get a better idea of the toll that these windows were taking on birds. So, we did surveys for a couple weeks during the fall migration period, and we documented evidence of 20 birds colliding with just the single set of windows.”

She and David Forbes with the Saskatoon Nature Society urged the committee to investigate getting some decals for the windows, which would set them back about $21,000. Administration responded that a lack of funding has prevented any implementation of bird-friendly measures in downtown Saskatoon, but a request for funding has been submitted for the upcoming budget process.