Birds and Buildings
According to American Bird Conservancy, an estimated 300 million to 1 billion birds die each year from colliding into glass from city skyscrapers to an individual's home. Clear glass, reflective glass, and vegetation placed within lobbies of buildings disorient birds and cause bird 'collisions' or 'strikes.' Day time and nighttime strikes both occur resulting in bird deaths or injuries.
Every 9 seconds a bird strikes a window and dies. While, window strikes do not get the publicity that massive oil spills do, they make a larger impact on the population than oil spills. According to a study, it would take 333 Exxon Valdez oil spills annually to equal the amount of birds that die each year from window strikes.
Every 9 seconds a bird strikes a window and dies. While, window strikes do not get the publicity that massive oil spills do, they make a larger impact on the population than oil spills. According to a study, it would take 333 Exxon Valdez oil spills annually to equal the amount of birds that die each year from window strikes.
Everyone can help by:
Think bird safe with birdfeeders and birdbaths
To help prevent injury or risk of collision, place birdfeeders and/or birdbaths less than a half metre (< 2’) or closer from your windows. Over this short distance, birds cannot build up enough momentum to injure themselves should they hit a window.
Place houseplants away from windows
Interior houseplants attract birds and may deceive a bird into flying into the plants. Instead, it flies into the glass. Move houseplants away from windows, and install blinds to be drawn during the day with slats turned open.
Plant Native Plants
Plant native trees, shrubs and flowering plants in your yard to provide food, shelter and nesting areas for birds. Visit the North American Native Plant Society (nanps.org) for tips.
Leave window screens in front of windows
Exterior screens in front of windows help reduce the risk of birds colliding with windows by muting the reflective qualities of glass. This is only effective for those windows with screens. All uncovered glass remains a threat.
Refrain from cleaning your windows
Bird collisions increase dramatically when windows are sparkly clean. Even minute dust particles on windows help reduce the reflective qualities of glass.
When you find an injured bird
Visit our resource page, call World Bird Sanctuary or Tree House Wildlife Center
Should a bird hit your window, gently place it inside an unwaxed paper bag or cardboard box firmly secured. Place it in a quiet location away from people and pets. Do not give the bird food or water.
Be a Citizen Scientist
Grim, we know. But if you should find a bird injured or dead by a window collision, you can contribute to bird behaviour and species research by reporting the incident on our mapper, a global mapping database. As we collect data, eventually, we’ll be able to determine where there is a concentration of collisions (a “hot zone”) and what makes a building, corner or intersection particularly deadly.
Turning off exterior decorative lighting
Minimizing interior lights, especially perimeter lights, by drawing blinds or using desk/task lights instead of overhead lights, especially on upper floors
Consider reducing the reflectivity of glass surfaces, especially those adjacent to green spaces.
Using Timers effectively to ensure light is only used when needed.
Installing motion-sensitive lighting
Using lower intensity lighting where possible
In outside areas where light is needed for safety, using light fixtures that direct the light down where needed instead of horizontally or upward
In addition, for large buildings:
dimming lobby and atrium lighting
adjusting cleaning crews schedules
avoiding illuminating interior plants of fountatins that are attractive for birds
using "zone capable" interior lighting systems that allow selected rather than all areas of an interior space to be illuminated
This is particularly important during peak migratory season in our area:
Between midnight and dawn
Fall: October 1 to November 15
Spring: April 15 to June 1
Think bird safe with birdfeeders and birdbaths
To help prevent injury or risk of collision, place birdfeeders and/or birdbaths less than a half metre (< 2’) or closer from your windows. Over this short distance, birds cannot build up enough momentum to injure themselves should they hit a window.
Place houseplants away from windows
Interior houseplants attract birds and may deceive a bird into flying into the plants. Instead, it flies into the glass. Move houseplants away from windows, and install blinds to be drawn during the day with slats turned open.
Plant Native Plants
Plant native trees, shrubs and flowering plants in your yard to provide food, shelter and nesting areas for birds. Visit the North American Native Plant Society (nanps.org) for tips.
Leave window screens in front of windows
Exterior screens in front of windows help reduce the risk of birds colliding with windows by muting the reflective qualities of glass. This is only effective for those windows with screens. All uncovered glass remains a threat.
Refrain from cleaning your windows
Bird collisions increase dramatically when windows are sparkly clean. Even minute dust particles on windows help reduce the reflective qualities of glass.
When you find an injured bird
Visit our resource page, call World Bird Sanctuary or Tree House Wildlife Center
Should a bird hit your window, gently place it inside an unwaxed paper bag or cardboard box firmly secured. Place it in a quiet location away from people and pets. Do not give the bird food or water.
Be a Citizen Scientist
Grim, we know. But if you should find a bird injured or dead by a window collision, you can contribute to bird behaviour and species research by reporting the incident on our mapper, a global mapping database. As we collect data, eventually, we’ll be able to determine where there is a concentration of collisions (a “hot zone”) and what makes a building, corner or intersection particularly deadly.
Turning off exterior decorative lighting
Minimizing interior lights, especially perimeter lights, by drawing blinds or using desk/task lights instead of overhead lights, especially on upper floors
Consider reducing the reflectivity of glass surfaces, especially those adjacent to green spaces.
Using Timers effectively to ensure light is only used when needed.
Installing motion-sensitive lighting
Using lower intensity lighting where possible
In outside areas where light is needed for safety, using light fixtures that direct the light down where needed instead of horizontally or upward
In addition, for large buildings:
dimming lobby and atrium lighting
adjusting cleaning crews schedules
avoiding illuminating interior plants of fountatins that are attractive for birds
using "zone capable" interior lighting systems that allow selected rather than all areas of an interior space to be illuminated
This is particularly important during peak migratory season in our area:
Between midnight and dawn
Fall: October 1 to November 15
Spring: April 15 to June 1