In the article linked, the author says he "claims" that glass strikes
are the second-highest "human-caused" source of mortality in birds. The
only number he quotes is 1.5% of a population of parrots (granted that
they are seriously endangered so any loss is important). The
high-looking numbers in that article are all percentages of some set of
species that have had *any* mortality due to glass.
A mortality of 1.5% is very, very small compared to natural mortality
and reproduction rates. It's importance is somewhat higher than it
looks since it presumably affects adults equally with young, in contrast
to most natural causes of mortality. Nonetheless, there are without
doubt much more serious issues to worry about, barring special conditions.
Someone should get rough estimates of percentage mortality of reasonably
common birds, especially migrants. There is far more that we need to do
to preserve bird populations than all of us together are capable, and it
would be a shame to spend a lot of time on something whose actual effect
is not very large.
On 10/10/2010 8:49 PM, Wendy O wrote:
> Rick
>
> A reference link was provided below. The title of the presentation
> is: AVIAN MORTALITY AT WINDOWS: THE SECOND LARGEST
> HUMAN SOURCE OF BIRD MORTALITY ON EARTH. By Dr. Daniel Klem.
>
> Here is the link again for your reference:
> http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/pif/pubs/McAllenProc/articles/PIF09_Anthropogenic%20Impacts/Klem_PIF09.pdf
>
>
> Here is another link from a David Sibley Blog.
> http://www.sibleyguides.com/conservation/causes-of-bird-mortality/
>
> Wendy
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Warblerick" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 8:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Glass collisions- was: Thrush
>
>
>> collisions with glass is the 2nd biggest killer of birds in the world
>> after habitat loss
>>
>> Wendy,
>> Could you please provide a source for this fact. I would think cats
>> take far more birds than window strikes.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Rick Sussman
>> Woodbine,MD
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Wendy O <>
>> To:
>> Sent: Sun, Oct 10, 2010 6:25 pm
>> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Glass collisions- was: Thrush
>>
>>
>> In regards to bird collisions with glass or plexiglass-
>>
>> If your windows are killing or injuring (many of the ones that fly
>> away may not really be OK) birds with improperly treated or untreated
>> windows, see below:
>>
>> In order for stickers to be effective you must have no more than 2"
>> of space vertically and 4" horizontally to eliminate bird collisions.
>> One sticker (or even many on a large window) does not work, as Gail
>> mentioned below. If you want to treat your windows and want a
>> template that will help you ensure you follow this pattern, email me
>> offline and I will send you one with instructions on how to treat the
>> glass. We used this 2" x 4" technique on our large (6' x 6' approx)
>> picture window and it has completely eliminated strikes. Putting the
>> stickers up took a while but it was worth it considering collisions
>> with glass is the 2nd biggest killer of birds in the world after
>> habitat loss.
>> http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/pif/pubs/McAllenProc/articles/PIF09_Anthropogenic%20Impacts/Klem_PIF09.pdf
>>
>>
>> Here are some other useful products/suggestions/information sources:
>> http://www.birdsavers.com/
>> http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/collisions/pdf/collisions_flyer.pdf
>>
>> https://www.abcbirds.org/birdconservationalliance/campaigns/collisions/Collision_info.pdf
>>
>>
>> If you are considering new windows or a sunroom, or know anyone who
>> is, here is some good news:
>>
>> Bird-friendlier glass is now available in the U.S. - Check the
>> distributor websites below for more details or to inquire about the
>> product, its effectiveness, etc. An interesting article on the
>> product here:
>> http://www.asknature.org/product/077e9d44e8e12f039458729f8de1ada9
>>
>> Distributors
>>
>> http://www.roeder-wd.com/ Until June 30, 2011 Roeder Windows & Doors
>> will offer its products with integrated ORNILUX Bird Protection Glass
>> without any
>> up-charge.
>>
>> If you're looking for a sunroom or a wall of glass (don't do it
>> unless you get a pattern on the glass or get treated glass), here is
>> an option:
>> http://www.nanawall.com/Learn/BirdProtection.aspx
>>
>> Another way you can help out is by volunteering with local monitoring
>> groups that are collecting data on this issue. Volunteers in
>> Baltimore have found approx 800 birds downtown during monitoring in
>> Spring and Fall migration. Species we've found include Clapper rail,
>> Sora, Connecticut warbler, Black-throated green warbler, Virginia
>> rail, Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Lincoln's sparrow, Ruby-throated
>> hummingbird, just to name a few. If anyone wants info on volunteering
>> for either DC or Baltimore, email me offline and I can put you in
>> touch with the appropriate folks.
>>
>> Wendy
>> Baltimore, MD
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gail Mackiernan"
>> <>
>> To: <>
>> Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 6:28 AM
>> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Glass collisions- was: Thrush
>>
>>> Unfortunately hawk silhouettes and other rather widely-spaced items
>>> placed
>>> on glass windows have been found only marginally effective in
>>> preventing
>>> bird strikes, although they probably help. I recently purchased some
>>> ultraviolet sticky patches which birds can see (but I can't) --
>>> however > they
>>> have the same down-side in that they are widely spaced. I keep the
>>> blinds > on
>>> our sun porch drawn (but with slats open) and this also helps but
>>> wondered
>>> if anyone had any other suggestions.
>>>
>>> I know that some have suggested drawing closely-spaced vertical
>>> lines on > the
>>> glass with a yellow highlighter (which again, birds see in the UV
>>> but are
>>> almost invisible to us). Has anyone tried this?
>>>
>>> Other thoughts?
>>>
>>> Gail Mackiernan
>>> Colesville, MD
>>>
>>> on 10/09/2010 9:37 PM, sharon schwemmer at
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Alas,
>>>>
>>>> My son came home around 5PM today to find a GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH
>>>> dead on >> the
>>>> deck with pokeberry juice dripping from its beak. It had an
>>>> unfortunate >> run
>>>> in with the sliding door, which I might add, has several hawk
>>>> silhouettes
>>>> all over it. :(
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sharon Schwemmer
>>>> Hampstead, MD
>>>> swschwemmer at verizon dot net
>>
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--
Maurice Barnhill
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716 |