12/04/2023
BIRDS AND WINDOWS.
Windows provide us a view of the outdoors, but to birds they are a
hazard. The glass reflects the sky, trees, and an image that birds
mistake for an area to fly. This happens on homes as well as large
buildings. Each year collisions amount to nearly 1 Billion birds
dying. There are ways you can make a significant difference and
save bird lives.
Researchers from the Smithsonian Biology Institute determined the
magnitude of this threat to birds by examining data of building
collisions. They estimated the annual mortality in the U.S. may be as
high as 988 million birds. Their research published in 2014 attributed
44% of deaths at residences and less than 1% at high-rise buildings
(11 or more floors) since there are far fewer of these buildings.
However, during migration, reports of large numbers of bird strikes in
one night present dramatic evidence of this problem. Overnight
October 4th of this year, the glass walls of McCormack Place
Lakeside Center in Chicago killed almost 1,000 migrating birds.
What to do? A screen on the outside of the window is best, but
cannot always be done. There are a variety of products that can be
applied to the exterior of windows to alert birds that there is
something solid there. Many of the stickers available are decorative
shapes that appear see-through to our eyes, but are in a color range
visible to birds. The American Bird Conservancy website--
abcbirds.org—has an extensive section on ways to protect birds from
collisions. Besides commercial products, there are also many DIY
remedies.
When it comes to larger buildings, some cities have established bird safe requirements for new construction. There is also proposed
legislation for new federal building safety measures. Supporting
these laws, educating representatives in government, architects, and
businesses will help push these improvements into reality.
What to do to help a bird that has collided with a window? It is best
to get the bird into a box while it is recovering. You can put the box
over the bird or use a light cloth over the bird to move it into the box,
but do not leave the cloth on it. Do have a cloth or paper towel on
the bottom to cushion the bird and make sure it is lying on its
stomach. Keep a lid on the box. Let the bird rest undisturbed. When
you hear the bird getting active you can open the box outside and see
if it flies out. Do not help it out. If you see one wing drooping, any
bleeding or the bird has not recovered in two hours, please contact a
licensed avian rehabilitator.
People are welcome to contact the Avian Wildlife Center in Wantage,
NJ with any questions or for help with an injured bird. The Center
also carries some of the products to apply to windows. Phone (973)
702-1957 or email [email protected]
