Songbird Window Strike Prevention Technology

New window treatment technologies are making buildings bird-safe without compromising aesthetics, creating opportunities for large-scale reduction of window strike mortality.

Key Facts

Window strikes kill an estimated 600 million birds annually in the US alone
UV-reflective glass is visible to birds but transparent to human vision
Fritted glass with patterns that birds perceive as obstacles reduces strikes by up to 90 percent
The American Bird Conservancy bird-friendly building design standard provides certification for compliant buildings

Welfare Considerations

Window strike mortality is almost entirely preventable with currently available technology. UV glass fritted patterns external screens and retrofit films can reduce strike mortality by 80 to 90 percent while maintaining building aesthetics. The barrier to adoption is awareness and building codes rather than technical feasibility. Requiring bird-safe glass in new building design and renovations through building codes is the most efficient policy intervention to reduce this massive source of bird mortality.

What You Can Do

Apply bird-safe film or UV patterns to high-risk windows in your home especially near feeders
Advocate for bird-friendly building design requirements in your city building codes
Support the American Bird Conservancy bird-friendly building certification program
Educate architects builders and developers about available bird-safe glazing options