Migratory Bird Hazard Reduction | Animal Welfare Hub

Billions of migratory birds die annually from human-made hazards — windows, power lines, towers, and light pollution — most of which are preventable.

Key Facts

Up to 1 billion birds die from window collisions in the US annually
Cats kill 1.3-4 billion birds per year in North America alone
Communication towers, power lines, and offshore platforms contribute to mass migratory bird mortality
Light pollution disorients migrating birds, causing exhaustion and collision deaths
Simple mitigation measures like window decals and cat confinement prevent millions of deaths per year

Welfare Considerations

Migratory birds face a gauntlet of human-created hazards twice a year during their journeys. Each collision, predation event, or disorientation death involves suffering — exhaustion, pain from impact injuries, distress during predation. The scale is staggering, but so is the preventability. Window markers, lights-out programs during migration, cat confinement, and simple modifications to communication infrastructure each prevent millions of deaths annually. Individual households and buildings can make a measurable difference. The welfare case for bird hazard mitigation is clear and the interventions are cost-effective.

What You Can Do

Apply bird-safe window markers or netting to large glass surfaces in your home
Keep cats indoors or in enclosed outdoor spaces, especially during migration seasons
Turn off unnecessary lights during spring and fall migration nights
Support your city lights-out campaign during peak migration windows
Advocate for bird-safe building design standards in your community