Bird-window collision Project
Saving Birds at the U
FCS Professor Barbara Brown, with the help of student research assistants, found that mirrored windows and fruiting pear trees near campus buildings were luring birds to their death. Birds act as though mirrored or reflective surfaces are not there. During winter, Cedar Waxwings feeding on the pear trees fly into windows on the buildings surrounding President's Circle and die.
Through a grant provided by the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund Feather Friendly® window protection was installed on part of the mirrored windows. Bird strikes were reduced by 71% the following winter!
START YOUR OWN BIRD-STRIKE STUDY!
Professor Barbara Brown and team have created a step-by-step manual on how to conduct your own bird-strike study.
(Be sure to also view appendix 1 and appendix 2)
Follow The research
iNaturalist
Bird strikes are documented on iNaturalist. See where bird stirkes are happening on campus and add observations.
PeerJ Article
June 19, 2020 - Bird-window collisions: different fall and winter risk and protective factors.
PeerJ Article
September 2, 2019 - Winter bird-window collisions: mitigation success, risk factors and implementation
changes.
READ THE ARTICLE