Bird density and mortality at windows

Abstract

Little is known about impacts to birds from collisions with windows at commercial buildings. We monitored bird mortality from striking windows at five commercial buildings on two college campuses in northwestern and southwestern Illinois. Bird mortality at Augustana College (northwestern), which was evaluated from 2002 to 2006, totaled 215 individuals in 48 species for an average rate of 55 birds/building/year. We calculated a mortality rate of 24 birds/building/year for 2004–2005 from 142 individuals within 37 species at Principia College (southwestern). Mortality of North American migrant (NAM) and neotropical migrant (NTM) birds was higher during migration than during summer or winter. We tested the hypothesis at Augustana that density of birds at a given location will be positively correlated with numbers of birds that die due to strikes with windows. Bird density only partially explained strikes with windows since mortality was also a function of landscaped habitat that attracted birds. Annual bird mortality at commercial buildings may be about five times higher than previous estimates. These buildings may place bird populations at high risk of strikes at windows.