Maybe youve seen the headlines: migrating birds collide en masse with a Texas office towers reflective sides, or crash into the gauntlets of glass weve erected in their flight paths through New York or Chicago. But this problem isnt unique to big cities or migration season. Each year between 365 million and 1 billion birds die from collisions with windows across the United States. The overwhelming majority of those window strikes occur at residential and low-rise buildings, with fewer than 1 percent caused by skyscrapers.
So no matter where you livean urban high-rise or a one-story suburban housesooner or later window strikes will likely hit close to home. When they do, try these tips from the experts to help injured birds and prevent future collisions.
Even when a bird survives a strike, it is often stunned and may appear dead or injured. If it isnt immediately apparent whether a bird is dead or alive, you can find out by gently moving its legs, says Rita McMahon, director of Wild Bird Fund in New York City. Birds go into rigor exceedingly quickly, like in a matter of minutes, she says. If the legs dont move, the bird is dead. But if they move, the birds just unconscious.
If the bird is alive, slowly approach, perhaps from behind to avoid startling it. Pick up the bird and put it into a paper bag or a shoebox. If you dont have gloves, make sure your hands are clean to protect the birds feathers, and wash your hands afterward. If youre far from home, you might consider placing the bird in a large pocket to warm it up, McMahon says. Birds body temperatures run around 105 degrees, so lying on the sidewalk even on a warm day can sap their body heat.
Why Birds Collide With Windows
Daytime and nighttime window collisions are the two primary categories. Birds collide with windows during the daytime because they can see vegetation or potted plants on the other side of the glass, or they can see reflections of the vegetation. Most songbirds and other nocturnal migrants crash at night when they fly into illuminated windows.
For reasons not entirely understood, lights divert nocturnal migrants from their original path, especially in low-ceiling or foggy conditions. In the lighted area, they mill about, sometimes colliding with one another or the lighted structure. As a subsequent hazard, migrants drawn off course by urban lighting may roost safely nearby, only to become vulnerable to daytime reflections in windows the following day. The BirdCast project and the Fatal Light Awareness Program have more about this problem.
One more reason is that birds occasionally target their reflections in windows. When territoriality is high in the spring, this occurs most frequently. Despite the fact that it may irritate the homeowner, the bird’s survival is rarely in danger. The majority of the solutions listed below for window strikes also address the issue of birds attacking reflections.
How to Help a Window Collision Victim
The best course of action for a bird that has struck a window is to seek immediate assistance from a wildlife rehabilitation center. Victims of window collisions may experience discomfort and internal injuries that are initially invisible but get worse over time. If left alone, they are susceptible to predators and foot traffic. Here’s what to do if you discover a bird unconscious following a window collision:
- Try to capture and contain it. Approaching from behind, gently cover the bird with both hands The bird may flutter or call outdont be startled. Because small birds are so delicate, avoid wrapping your fingers or hand tightly around their body; instead, hold the bird firmly but gently.
- Locate a suitable container that the bird can grip, like a small cardboard box lined with tissue paper or paper towels, or an unwaxed paper bag. The closed container should be placed away from kids and pets in a warm, quiet, and dark area.
- As soon as the bird is inside the container, do not handle, feed, or water it. Keep in mind that wild birds may view humans as predators, so avoid causing stress to the bird.
- Use this online directory to locate a rehabber in your area, then get in touch with them for more information. Inform the wildlife rehabilitation center if you are unable to relocate the bird, and they might be able to provide you with other options.
- If the facility gives you the go-ahead to attempt releasing the bird, take it to a wooded area far from any buildings, or another habitat suitable for the species. Keep a safe distance from any trees or other vegetation before releasing the bird so you can evaluate its flight. Slowly open the top of the bag or box while pointing it toward any vegetation. If the bird has trouble flying, attempt to re-capture it and get in touch with the wildlife rehabilitation center for additional advice.
Even when a bird survives a strike, it is often stunned and may appear dead or injured. If it isnt immediately apparent whether a bird is dead or alive, you can find out by gently moving its legs, says Rita McMahon, director of Wild Bird Fund in New York City. Birds go into rigor exceedingly quickly, like in a matter of minutes, she says. If the legs dont move, the bird is dead. But if they move, the birds just unconscious.
If the bird is alive, slowly approach, perhaps from behind to avoid startling it. Pick up the bird and put it into a paper bag or a shoebox. If you dont have gloves, make sure your hands are clean to protect the birds feathers, and wash your hands afterward. If youre far from home, you might consider placing the bird in a large pocket to warm it up, McMahon says. Birds body temperatures run around 105 degrees, so lying on the sidewalk even on a warm day can sap their body heat.
Hitting glass often leaves birds with concussions. Some people who stuck their legs out the window in a last-ditch effort to avoid a collision may have suffered pelvic injuries. “A layperson wouldn’t be able to provide the appropriate medical treatment and wouldn’t know or recognize all the signs of various bird injuries,” says Sunny Kellner, a wildlife rehabilitation and outreach specialist at the Sharon Audubon Center.
The next best thing to getting the bird to a wildlife rehabber is to take it to a safe location where it won’t be vulnerable to predators, hypothermia, or other dangers. The bird can be kept in a paper bag or shoebox in a quiet, dark room of your home that is away from people and pets. Leave the bird undisturbed for about an hour. Then listen, McMahon says. “He’s feeling better if you hear that bird tap-dancing around inside.” .
Dont wait until a bird hits your window. By making glass safer for birds, you can take proactive measures to stop future injuries and deaths to birds. There are many ways to go about this. Collisions can be significantly decreased by adding dots to the glass or hanging cords inside the window. Flex advises drawing vertical lines four inches apart across the exterior of the entire window with a glass pen and a ruler. Kellner recommends UV-reflective window film. Even though it is less efficient, closing the blinds is a simple method to at least reduce collisions. Additionally, if you feed birds at home, set up bird baths and feeders more than thirty feet away from windows or within three feet of them to prevent birds from gathering speed before striking.
FAQ
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