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Up to a billion birds die flying into windows in North America each year, better design could change that

Hundreds of millions of birds die every year flying straight into windows. The locals - pigeons and seagulls - aren't as vulnerable but migrating songbirds routinely slam into glass, lured by the reflections. Today, our project By Design looks at how the creation of glass with hidden patterns is saving one songbird at a time....
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Every year, nearly one billion birds are killed in North America flying into windows. And with its glittering skyscrapers, Toronto is considered one of the world’s deadliest cities for migratory birds. Today we're looking at how new design can save these birds. (Kenneth Herdy/FLAP)
The Current27:30Designing safer cities for migrating birds dying from window collisions - Oct 7, 2014

Hundreds of millions of birds die every year flying straight into windows. The locals - pigeons and seagulls - aren't as vulnerable but migrating songbirds routinely slam into glass, lured by the reflections. Today, our project By Design looks at how the creation of glass with hidden patterns is saving one songbird at a time.

• Photo Gallery: A Deadly City for Migratory Birds

It's been estimated that as many as one billion birds are killed in North America each year flying into windows. Most are song birds. This is peak season for such deaths, the annual fall migration south.

As part of our project By Design, we are taking a look at some of the experiments and innovations underway to design bird friendlier glass and architecture. Skyscrapers can be killing grounds for birds, but the vast majority of deaths are from collisions with the windows of homes.

To better understand why, the University of Alberta in Edmonton, has begun a 'Birds and Windows Project'. More than 800 homeowners from across North America are signed up to document bird collisions at their homes and send the data to the University. One of those taking part is retired Edmonton teacher and bird lover, Robert Davidson.

 While our homes may be bird death traps, cities are particularly lethal for migratory birds. With its location on the shores of Lake Ontario,Toronto sits smack in the middle of the annual migration routes.

Here are some photos of Michael Mesure with volunteers from FLAP in Toronto and Christine Sheppard at the Bronx Zoo with their efforts to save birds. 



If you've had to deal with birds flying into windows, tell us about it. If you're someone who designs buildings and you've had to take bird safety into account, let us know about it.

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This segment was produced by Calgary's Network Producer Michael O'Halloran.

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