Wild Migratory Bird Window Strike Prevention

Window strikes cause the death of up to one billion birds annually in North America, with simple building modifications dramatically reducing mortality.

Key Facts

Window strikes kill an estimated 600 million to 1 billion birds annually in North America
Birds cannot perceive glass as a barrier and either see reflected sky or habitat through transparent panes
Collisions cause immediate death, concussion, or injury that leads to predation
Fritted glass, window films with UV patterns, and exterior screens effectively prevent strikes
Moving bird feeders either within 3 feet or beyond 30 feet of windows prevents fatal strike trajectories
Turning off lights at night during spring and fall migration reduces building collisions in urban areas
Fatal Light Awareness Program coordinates building light-out programs during peak migration periods

Welfare Considerations

Window strikes cause acute trauma - brain injuries from impact cause immediate or delayed death, and injured birds that escape the site face predation while disoriented. The scale - potentially a billion birds annually in North America alone - makes this one of the largest direct human-caused wildlife welfare problems. Solutions are simple, inexpensive, and highly effective, making window strikes among the most preventable major sources of bird mortality.

What You Can Do

Apply bird-safe window films or fritting to problem windows in your home or workplace
Move bird feeders to within 3 feet of windows so birds cannot build lethal momentum
Participate in or advocate for light-out programs in your city during spring and fall migration
Report bird strikes and advocate for bird-safe glass in new building construction
Support American Bird Conservancy's efforts on building collision standards and regulations
Keep your cat indoors especially during dawn and dusk when strike-injured birds are most vulnerable to predation