During the summer millions of birds are born across the vast forests that cover the northern portion of our continent. Aside from hardy species like chickadees and nuthatches, most small woodland birds are migratory, taking advantage of the temporary explosion of endless insects and available nesting locations during the warm season. However, these young birds, driven by Zugenruhe, or migratory restlessness and reliant on insects for food, must escape the northern incubator en masse before it turns to a chilly death trap. Unfortunately, on their epic journeys south to wintering locations in the southern US, Mexico and beyond, many birds run into another sort of death trap, this one considerably less natural: glass windows.
Historic flyways have long been interrupted with human activity and infrastructure, but no human invention is as insidious to birds as glass windows. The “thud” of a bird hitting your window while you enjoy a cup of coffee sickens the stomach, but these home-deaths are preventable. Research shows that the majority of window strikes occur at residential or low rise buildings, not high rise buildings that are commonly villainized the most.
Unfortunately, window strikes eliminate both the most naive and the most fit individuals of a species, not conforming to nature’s tried-and-true “survival of the fittest.” Many birds who don’t die immediately suffer from internal bleeding or concussions or are picked off by predators such as domestic cats. If a bird strikes your window and you find it still alive, please catch the bird calmly with a sheet or towel and place the injured animal in a shoebox with no food or water and take it to MARS for treatment.
So why do birds hit windows, and how can we make our homes and businesses safer for migrant and resident birds?
Firstly, it is important to understand why birds fall victim to window collisions. Most of the time these birds see habitat like trees, shrubs, or the open sky reflected convincingly in the glass. They confidently fly full speed towards the “habitat” before their flight is abruptly cut short with a wall of glass. Large windows that reflect high quality habitat are the most problematic. Glass railings are also an issue, birds failing to see the invisible barrier between them and their target. Many window strikes occur when birds are otherwise engaged or distracted: a newly arrived migrant looking desperately for food, a spring male fighting with a rival, or a small bird escaping a predator (although hawks, falcons and owls themselves are common admissions to MARS due to window collisions).
Secondly, I find it imperative to clarify which window treatments work to prevent bird strikes and which don’t. Unfortunately, the typical decals used must be applied so liberally that no homeowner would adore their bay window with that many raptor silhouettes. Fear not, a more discreet and more effective option exists. The MARS gift shop sells Feather Friendly Window Decals at a reduced price to make saving bird lives is as affordable as possible.
Glass windows are estimated to kill approximately 29 million birds per year in Canada, and a staggering 676 million per year in the United States. Since the majority of collisions occur at private homes like yours and mine, we all have a lot of work to do.
For more information on preventing window collisions or to purchase decals for your window, visit the MARS Visitor Centre and Gift Shop.
