Wildlife Conservation

Wild Bird Welfare: Window Strike Prevention

Window and glass strikes kill an estimated 100-980 million birds annually in North America and millions more across Europe. Prevention measures are simple and highly effective.

Key Facts

Birds cannot perceive clear or reflective glass as a solid barrier
Collisions occur most frequently with windows adjacent to bird feeders or habitat
UV-reflective decals and external films are effective at preventing strikes
Closing blinds and using external screens reduces collision risk significantly
Turning off interior lights at night reduces disorientation and strike risk in migrating birds

Welfare Considerations

Window strikes cause acute traumatic injury and death for enormous numbers of birds annually. The scale of this problem makes individual and building-level prevention actions collectively very significant.

What You Can Do

Apply window decals or films to glass near bird feeders or habitat
Advocate for bird-safe glass standards in new building construction
Participate in collision monitoring programmes run by local bird conservation groups