Wildlife Welfare

Wild Bird Window Strike Prevention

Glass windows kill hundreds of millions of birds annually in North America alone. Simple interventions can dramatically reduce mortality from building and home window collisions.

Key Facts

Up to 1 billion birds die from window strikes in the US each year
Birds cannot perceive glass as a barrier and fly toward reflected vegetation
Collisions peak during spring and fall migration
Even non-fatal strikes cause traumatic brain injury and disorientation
Decals spaced 2 inches apart in a grid pattern significantly reduce strikes

Welfare Considerations

Window strikes cause sudden, traumatic death or serious injury. Surviving birds may suffer internal hemorrhage, wing fractures, and neurological damage. The pain and distress of collision victims is difficult to assess but likely significant. This is one of the most preventable sources of wild bird mortality, and solutions are inexpensive and widely available.

What You Can Do

Apply bird-safe tape, decals, or screens to exterior windows at home
Install exterior netting on high-risk windows in large buildings
Support advocacy for bird-safe building codes in your city or state
If you find a stunned bird, keep it quiet and dark in a box until it recovers or contact wildlife rehab