News & Events
June, 2008 - George Petrides Receives Citizens Award For Exceptional Service
June, 2008 - WBC Awards Winners of the National Youth Photo Contest
Search for Local Events!
Staff & Bird Store Videos
Meet our franchisees and staff here!
Exclusive Bird Supplies
PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION
A CALL FOR HELP
Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. is proud to sponsor PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION, an international study designed to reduce the number of collisions at your home and in your neighborhood. Beginning spring 2006 and continuing through winter 2008, this research project asks citizen scientists to report past and current window-bird collisions, and to describe architectural features of one's home and the landscape that surrounds it. By compiling information from thousands of participants we will be able to develop recommendations for how to make our homes safer for backyard birds. You can begin today by becoming a citizen scientist for PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION, and your participation may help save a bird's life!
HOW SERIOUS IS THE PROBLEM?
Window-bird collisions are a substantial source of human-caused avian mortality. In the United States, it has been estimated that between 100 million and 1 billion birds die in collisions with windows every year, and on average 1-10 birds die per building per year. Collisions are not limited to birds of a particular age or sex, and approximately 25% of the bird species in the United States and Canada including residents and migrants have experienced fatal collisions.
WHERE WINDOW-BIRD COLLISIONS OCCUR & WHY?
Window-bird collisions are not limited to a particular type of building, windows can be large or small and facing any direction, and collisions occur during all seasons and during all times of the day. Birds that are in the vicinity of windows can become victims of a collision.
Clear window panes and those with high reflectivity may not be recognized by birds as barriers, and birds subsequently fly into them. Specifically, daytime collisions can occur in several ways. First, birds may not recognize glass as a reflective barrier and attempt to fly to the habitat that is being reflected. Also, birds may not be able to recognize a corridor of windows as a barrier. For example, birds may see through the sides of a bay window or see through glass corridors, and attempt to fly to the other side. Finally, during the breeding season, territorial males often see their reflection, and repeatedly attack the perceived intruder.
(Download a movie of an American Robin attacking a window).
SOLUTIONS
There are several steps that one can take to reduce the number of daytime window-bird collisions.
For pre-existing homes, moving bird feeders to within 3 feet of a window has been shown to eliminate fatal collisions that are a result of bird feeding activities. Placing decals (e.g., hawk silhouettes) on the outside of windows can also reduce the number of collisions. Multiple decals will be needed on large windows, and decals should be placed no more than 4 inches apart vertically and 2 inches apart horizontally to be most effective. Other possible solutions include adding physical barriers to the windows such as awning and netting.
For homes to be constructed, angling windows downward at 20 or 40 degrees can reduce the number of window-bird collisions. In addition, birds are more susceptible to collisions with larger window panes (> 6 sq. ft.).