Every year, over 2 billion birds die in the U.S., crashing into windows and buildings and hurting badly. Scientists have discovered that over 2 billion birds die every year after crashing into windows and buildings.
Birds are magnificent animals with extraordinary vision for soaring across the skies. There is an issue, though: birds cannot see glass windows. They may notice trees or the sky reflected in a window as they look at it. They believe they can continue to fly. However, they collide with the glass when they attempt to fly through the window.
Birds are flying very fast. When they crash into the glass, some birds die instantly, while others get stunned and fall to the ground. If their luck is good, they wake up and fly away. Unfortunately, many of these birds died later because of the injuries they sustained from the crash. This problem is much bigger than we used to think.
Scientists find out how many birds die each year from crashing into windows. They studied records from wildlife centers where injured birds are taken for help. They have looked at over 3,000 cases from different states since 2016. They discovered that most of the birds died before being taken to them. 60% of the birds that crashed into windows did not survive.
Most of the birds died because of their brain injuries, just like when people have car accidents and hit their heads. Their brains might swell, making it impossible for them to survive.
Not only is there a problem with window crashes, but there is also another big problem called light pollution. During migration seasons, birds are attracted to bright lights in big cities at night. They get confused, and they end up flying into buildings. This incident happens in the fall when many migratory birds fly south for the winter.
For example, in one terrible incident in Chicago, nearly 1,000 birds died in just one day by crashing into the building.
Mourning doves, American robins, Cooper’s hawks, northern cardinals, and grey catbirds are some of the most common birds that are more likely to crash into windows than others. These strong birds injured their heads after hitting the windows.
Here’s how to help them:
| How We Can Help Birds | Why It Helps | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Put Stickers or Tape on Windows | Helps birds see the glass so they don’t fly into it. | Stick colorful shapes or special tape on the outside of windows. |
| Turn Off Lights at Night | Stops lights from confusing birds when they fly at night. | Turn off lights that aren’t needed when it’s dark. |
| Use Special Glass | Makes windows easier for birds to see. | Use glass that’s frosted, colored, or has patterns. |
| Put Up Bird Screens | Keeps birds from hitting the glass. | Install nets or screens in front of windows. |
| Move Bird Feeders Away from Windows | Stops birds from getting too close to windows. | Place bird feeders far from windows, or very close so birds can’t gain speed. |
| Close Curtains or Blinds | Blocks reflections that confuse birds. | Keep curtains or blinds closed during the day. |
The good news is that there are many things we can do to prevent these birds from dying. We can put stickers or tape on windows to make the glass visible to birds. During bird migration seasons, we must turn off unnecessary lights at night. This step will reduce light pollution. We can also use bird-friendly windows to help the birds see more easily. This glass can be frosted, colored, or stained to make it safer for birds. Or we can install bird screens. These are like nets that go over windows to keep birds from flying into them.
On our planet, birds are very important. They help manage the bug population and disperse seeds to create new plants. But birds are in jeopardy. North America has lost around 3 billion birds in the past 50 years. That’s a huge number! We must take measures to stop birds from disappearing because one of the reasons for their disappearance is window crashes.
Every year in the United States, window crashes claim the lives of about a billion birds, and the figure may be substantially higher. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard these incredible animals. By making our windows safer and lowering light pollution, we can help save countless birds’ lives. Remember, tiny improvements can make a tremendous difference for the birds in our environment.
