When you think of bird building collisions, what usually comes to mind are enormous, glass encased, skyscrapers in big cities.
But surprisingly, many of these collisions happen in low rise residential areas. Most birds don’t perceive glass as an obstacle. So for birds like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, shiny glass exteriors, internal plants near windows, glass corners, and greenery close to buildings can all be deadly.
As part of our work to protect birds and the places they need, we’re raising awareness about actions individuals and building owners can take to reduce glass collisions. These simple solutions can help make our communities and the skies safer for birds.
Solutions such as:
Turning off exterior decorative lighting
Extinguishing pot and flood-lights
Turning off interior lighting, especially on higher stories
Down-shielding exterior lighting
Installing automatic motion sensors and controls
Assessing the quality and quantity of light needed, and avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology
We know that simple changes can help birds. Whether it's building safer buildings or working to combat our climate emergency, there are things we can all do together to protect birds.
We need your help to protect birds
Up to 1 billion birds are killed in building collisions each year.
Species like Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and American Goldfinches are particularly susceptible to building strikes.
We're advocating for legislation like the Bird Safe Buildings Act, to help birds avoid collisions by promoting bird-friendly materials and design features at federal buildings.
We’ve lost 3 billion birds over the last 50 years, and window collisions are one of the leading direct human causes of bird mortality. Consistent support from generous people like you allows us to continue a variety of programs that address the biggest challenges that birds face and aim to secure them a brighter future.
