Another pandemic summer saw many homeowners spending more time around backyard fire pits — when conditions weren’t too dry — but some residents with breathing problems have asked a city councillor to try to put a stop to the smoke.

The idea of establishing buffer zones for residential fires will be up for discussion at an upcoming city committee meeting through a motion put forward by Coun. Kevin Klein, who is asking city administration to find out whether a fire-buffer policy exists in other places and would be feasible for Winnipeg.

Klein is not asking for a change to the city bylaw governing residential fires; he said he simply wants the public service to complete a report on the issue because he’s heard several complaints from residents with asthma. He’s also heard from residents who enjoy having fires and don’t want that privilege taken away.

“Some very angry, on both sides, so this is why I think it’s key for us (to get a report),” Klein said.

If it walks like a duck and talks like a human, chances are it’s getting scientists very excited and making headlines around the world.

For the record, we’re not talking about Donald or Daffy or some other cartoon duck. No, we’re talking about recordings of an Australian musk duck named “Ripper” repeatedly saying what sounds like “you bloody fool.”

The 34-year-old recording, recently made public, appears to be the first documented evidence of the species being able to mimic sounds and has researchers reviewing the evolution of vocal language learning in birds.

According to news reports, Ripper, a male musk duck reared in captivity at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, southwest of Canberra, was recorded vocalizing the sound of doors slamming shut as well as the words “you bloody fool,” a phrase he likely learned from his caretaker.

GLAZED windows and limits on lighting are options the City of Winnipeg is considering to save birds from flying into buildings.

Approximately 25 million birds die in Canada annually by colliding with windows, according to a study used as part of the city’s research into the problem.

“We’re losing our birds, especially our migratory birds, at a really fast rate,” said Kevin Fraser, a University of Manitoba associate professor who studies the species. “Light and windows are huge threats.”

Winnipeg is part of the Mississippi flyway, a major migration route for birds.