“Window Collisions: The Silent Threat to Bird Populations in the U.S.”

New research has revealed the devastating impact that window collisions have on bird populations in the United States. According to a study conducted by a team of ornithologists from the NYC Bird Alliance, Fordham University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, less than half of injured or stunned birds survive collisions with windows. This means that as many as one billion birds may be killed each year from flying into buildings in the U.S.

The researchers analyzed wildlife rehabilitation records of thousands of birds involved in window collisions and found that 60 percent of treated birds still died, mostly from brain injuries. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, highlighted the significant threat that building collisions pose to bird populations, affecting over 50 avian families and hundreds of species.

Lead author of the study, Ar Kornreich, emphasized the importance of prevention in addressing this issue. Simple measures such as placing stickers or tape on windows and turning off lights at night can help reduce the number of bird collisions. Kornreich stressed that rehabilitation alone is not enough to solve the problem, as some injuries have a poor prognosis.

The researchers also noted that previous studies on bird collisions often focused on birds that were already dead, overlooking the significant number of birds that survive initial impact but later succumb to their injuries. By considering these cases, the researchers estimated that the total number of birds killed from colliding with windows in the U.S. each year could be as high as one billion.

The findings underscore the urgent need for action to protect bird populations from the threat of building collisions. Conservation efforts and public awareness campaigns can help mitigate this issue and ensure the survival of avian species in the U.S. and beyond.