Window strikes kill hundreds of millions of birds globally each year, making collision with glass one of the most significant preventable causes of wild bird mortality. Simple interventions dramatically reduce collision risk.
Window strike welfare involves acute traumatic injury - concussion, internal bleeding, broken necks - causing immediate death or prolonged suffering before death. Surviving birds may recover if given quiet, dark conditions for several hours but many die from internal injuries. Prevention is straightforward and inexpensive: window markers, external screens, or bird-friendly glass eliminate most collisions. Building certification standards in some countries now include bird-friendly glass requirements. Consumer pressure on architects, planning authorities, and window manufacturers can accelerate adoption of bird-safe building standards in new construction.