Wildlife Conservation

Wild Migratory Songbird Building Collisions Prevention

Building glass collisions kill hundreds of millions of migratory songbirds annually in North America alone, and simple treatments dramatically reduce mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 600 million birds die annually from window collisions in the US
Birds cannot perceive glass as a barrier and fly toward reflected habitat
Fritted glass patterns at 2-inch or smaller spacing make glass visible to birds
Dawn and dusk migration flights have the highest collision rates

Welfare Considerations

Birds that strike glass experience blunt force trauma causing internal injuries, skull fractures, and death. Birds that survive strikes often die later from neurological damage. The suffering of hundreds of millions of birds annually from building glass strikes is one of the most tractable welfare problems in conservation because simple and inexpensive solutions are available and highly effective.

What You Can Do

Apply window collision deterrents to windows in your home
Advocate for bird-safe glass standards in new construction
Support cities adopting bird-safe building ordinances
Participate in window strike monitoring programs to identify high-risk locations