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The Toronto waterfront provides essential natural habitat for local and migratory birds. Toronto is at the convergence of two migratory routes—the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways. The city has a special responsibility to preserve key habitat areas along its waterfront and the Toronto Islands. It is critical that migratory birds have safe green spaces, free from hazards, for their stopovers on Toronto shorelines before they continue their long journeys thousands of kilometers away. The Toronto Islands are one of the most significant stopovers for migratory birds in Toronto.
The city, provincial and federal governments need to control development in order to protect birds and their migration patterns. The Island Airport and proposals for its major expansions are inconsistent with the Waterfront Vision being developed by the three levels of government to green the shoreline and make it more livable for its communities.
Take Action to Protect Toronto Waterfront Birds by signing Petition
Sign the petition at the Care2 Petition website calling on the Port Authority and federal government to undertake a full and proper environmental assessment of the proposed pedestrian tunnel aimed at facilitating airport expansion.
We are grateful to rabble.ca for media sponsorship
Please attend the next Public Hearing for the Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed Toronto Island Airport Tunnel Project slated for:
6:30-8:30 pm, January 12, 2011
Radisson Admiral Hotel
249 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto
January 7, 2011 at 1:23 am
Re: proposed Toronto Island Airport Tunnel Project.
Review of Provincially Significant Wetlands in the City of Toronto
This report was co-authored by Karl Konze (Wildlife Ecologist, Dougan & Associates), Sarah Mainguy (Ecologist, North-South Environmental Inc.) and Margot Ursic (Planning Ecologist,
formerly with Dougan & Associates, currently with Beacon Environmental) with research support from Ian Richards (Wildlife Ecologist, Dougan & Associates) and statistical analyses and related input from Dr. Uta Matthes (Ecologist, University of Guelph).
The Study Team and the City of Toronto gratefully acknowledge the Toronto Ornithological Club (TOC) (and specifically Roy Smith and Glenn Coady) who extracted and provided more than 67,000 bird data records from their database for the City of Toronto from between 1990 and 2007 for use in this study, as well as Michael Mesure who provided thousands of records from the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) database for Toronto’s downtown core.
The following excerpt reiterates concerns expressed in the Take Action petition which I share.
“In Toronto there is anecdotal evidence from birders of areas along the lakeshore being migratory stopover habitat for hundreds of thousands of birds going back well over a century, and current data supports these informal accounts. Since 1990, the Toronto Ornithological Club has maintained a database of bird observations in Toronto and adjacent municipalities. Analysis of these records shows that between 1990 and 2007 more than 67,000 birds of nearly 400 different species have been recorded in the Greater Toronto Area, with nearly half of the species being neo-tropical or temperate migrants. These migratory bird species include 18 species currently designated as Species at Risk in Ontario and/or Canada.
Key reasons why migrating birds continue to use the City of Toronto as a stopover location are thought to include: the City’s location between the wintering and breeding grounds of numerous abundant temperate and neotropical migrants; the City’s proximity to Lake Ontario, making it a logical resting place for birds who have just crossed the lake from the south, as well as those about to cross (or fly around) the lake on their way down from further north; the availability of greenspace in the City, including sizeable patches along or close to the lakeshore and along the river valleys; and the return of species with “programmed” migration routes who, in the past (i.e., for hundreds or even thousands of years) have found good habitat in this location.”
Great cities of the world are renowned for their bird populations. Only small minds will dismiss the innate value of wildlife and of birds in their living environment. Please make the continuing safety of migratory birds your mandate. Vision for a Toronto waterfront must include a vision for the future well being and safe passage of migratory birds. Ensure that migratory birds are a part of our waterfront ‘transformation’.
C.Morgan McNeil
January 7, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Recent news is peppered with mass deaths of various species—birds, fish, etc.
We must do what we can to save species other than humans.
January 11, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Toronto wants to be world class then we can all build a better city by treating God’s creatures with a healty and safe environment. It is appalling that so many high-rise condos have spoiled the beauty of the Lakshore and given hardship to wildlife by ruining their habitat and destroying their homes. We give sorrow to God when we do developments out of greed and we lose blessings when we do not exercise responsible stewardship of the land and its creatures.
January 13, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Toronto’s waterfront is already over developed.