Wild Animals

Wild Bird Window Strike Prevention

Window strikes kill an estimated 1-4 billion birds annually in North America, making them one of the largest preventable human-caused bird mortality sources.

Key Facts

Birds cannot perceive glass as a barrier and fly into reflections of vegetation
Larger, taller buildings cause more strikes but household windows kill most birds cumulatively
Decals placed at 10cm spacing on the outer surface of glass prevent most strikes
Bird-safe glass with UV-reflective patterns is increasingly available for new construction

Welfare Considerations

Birds killed by window strikes die from head trauma that may be immediate or may involve extended suffering. Injured birds left at the base of windows experience fear, pain, and predation vulnerability. Prevention through window marking is simple, cheap, and saves billions of lives annually.

What You Can Do

Apply window decals or screens to all large windows in your home
Contact local businesses about installing bird-safe glass or deterrent patterns
Advocate for bird-safe building standards in construction regulations
Monitor windows during migration season and provide care for injured birds found below