Wild Animals

Wild Bird Window Collision Prevention

Billions of birds die annually from window collisions worldwide, making glass a leading cause of bird mortality — and one of the most preventable with simple interventions.

Key Facts

An estimated 600 million to 1 billion birds die from window strikes in the US alone each year
Birds cannot perceive glass as a barrier — they see the reflection of sky or vegetation
Collisions cause immediate death, concussion, internal bleeding, and delayed mortality
Window strikes are the second leading human-caused bird death after outdoor cats
Simple deterrents like UV-reflecting patterns, tape strips, or external screens reduce strikes by over 90%

Welfare Considerations

Birds that survive initial window impacts often die within hours or days from internal hemorrhage or concussion. Those that survive the immediate trauma may remain vulnerable to predation while disoriented. The scale of mortality — comparable to or exceeding all bird deaths from wind turbines — makes window collision prevention one of the highest-impact individual actions for bird welfare.

What You Can Do

Apply window strike deterrent tape, decals, or film to windows at home and work
Place bird feeders either within 1 meter of windows or more than 10 meters away
Use exterior screens or netting on large glass surfaces
If you find a stunned bird, place it in a ventilated box in a quiet dark place for recovery
Advocate for bird-safe building design standards in your municipality