October 21, 2025
As urban communities develop and incorporate more and more glass windows, there has been an increase in bird strikes.
What are bird strikes?
- Bird strikes are bird-window collisions that can be fatal. They can occur on aircraft, wind turbines, and even in low and densely populated urban areas. Birdstrikes peak in the fall and spring seasons. That is when migratory birds are more active.
- The reasons for these strikes are the reflective windows and transparent glass used on skyscrapers. The birds cannot see the glass when they are flying and collide with the buildings. Another factor in these collisions is the decorative dim lights located around windows on these buildings. The lights add to the reflectiveness and transparency of these windows, amplifying the number of bird strikes.
What are some of the facts about bird strikes?
- According to ABCbirds.org, Building Collisions Kill Over One Billion Birds Annually in the U.S.
- Most of the collisions involve migratory birds. These collisions have rapidly decreased many migratory bird species. It is a real threat.
What can construction businesses and large building companies do to help solve this issue?
- Companies can invest in a special type of windowpane that has little marks that lessen the reflectiveness of the glass.
- Companies can also eliminate the use of decorative lights around windows, preventing bird collisions and lessening unnecessary light pollution.
What can we do?
- Young Environmentalists can help solve this problem by volunteering with programs that record and protect birds that fall victim to bird strikes. One program located in Jersey City, New Jersey, helps record the number of bird strikes. The program, Jersey City Birds, is a great way for young Environmentalists to volunteer and make a difference.
- Young Environmentalists can also take direct action and message their local lawmakers, send letters, and raise awareness about bird strikes and their prevention.
https://abcbirds.org/news/bird-building-collisions-study-2024/
