The Don River Bird Corridor

At the confluence of two major migratory bird paths, the city of Toronto can be considered a superhighway, supporting the habitat of millions of birds each year. They flock to the watercourses that have sculpted the city -- the rivers and ravines that lay within the ever-developing urban fabric. Under the threat of climate change and the loss of vital habitat, species at risk seek refuge in the the network systems of parks that connect to the city’s most valuable life source - the water. This project dedicates the Lower Don River and the Riverdale Park to the birds of Toronto, with the intent to reconnect the city to an abundant ecosystem it once supported. The Lower Don Bird Corridor will provide target ecosystems - varying environmental condistions for bird species to nest and forage. A series of follies act as interactive structures for both birds and humans, trailing through a gradient of constructed wetlands and woodlands that provide habitat for wildlife but also retain floodwater and filter stormwater from the neigbouring roads before it reaches the river. With Riverdale Park East and West as the the entry ways to the trail, the path makes way for bird enthusiasts and pedestrians alike. A restored landscape, the Lower Don River becomes a continuous corridor for birds and other wildlife to thrive, revitalizing the city’s connection to the Don River and the greater ravine trail network.