Caledon officially recognized as bird friendly

A cardinal and gold finch. (Source: Carrie Fraleigh)

Caledon is joining a growing list of 21 municipalities across Ontario who have received the prestigious designation of being a Bird Friendly City, recognized by Nature Canada.

The recognition is based on the Town’s leadership in bird conservation, habitat protection and community engagement.

To get on the list, municipalities need to meet certain standards when it comes to threat reduction, habitat protection and restoration, and community outreach and education.

Earlier this year, Town Council passed a motion for staff to apply for the Bird Friendly City status. The motion included commitment to continued action like yearly reporting, ongoing program development and support for a community-led bird team.

The Town says it has strong environmental policies and programs that help to reduce threats to bird populations. These include encouraging bird-friendly building design, dark-sky lighting to reduce light pollution, educating the public on how to prevent window collisions and implementing animal control bylaws to limit free-roaming cats.

“This designation reflects Caledon’s commitment to protecting our natural environment and the wildlife that depend on it,” said Caledon Mayor Annette Groves. “Becoming a Bird Friendly City is the result of ongoing collaboration between Council, staff, community partners and residents who care about preserving the landscapes that make Caledon unique.”

Nature Canada has also recognized its plentiful trail networks and biodiverse regions Caledon offers.

The town is home to numerous bird species including the great blue heron, blue jay, belted kingfisher, northern cardinal, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American goldfinch, killdeer and dark-eyed junco.

Other communities in the Simcoe County region already with a Bird Friendly City designation are Barrie and the Kawartha Lakes.

What you can do to help bird population

The Town recommends keeping cats indoors or training them to be on a harness and leash. It says to help reduce birds crashing into your windows, make them feather friendly by getting a window sticker kit. It also says to plant native trees, shrubs and perennials.

It encourages the public to support local conservation efforts and to attend a bird walk to learn about birds in the region.

Currently, Nature Canada says in the last 50 years, North American bird populations have dropped more than 25 per cent.