More Cornell Lab News<\/h2>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/YellowBelliedSapsucker_StevenHunter.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>News Room<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\nMore than 1 billion birds die annually from striking glass in the United States alone, making it the third-largest human-caused threat to bird populations\u2014and most of these deaths happen at ordinary homes, not skyscrapers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’re excited to share DIY solutions that anyone can tackle in a weekend,” said Cady Netland, birdsafe coordinator at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. \u201cWhether kid-friendly painting projects, bird friendly window film, or BirdSavers made with paracord, these projects will help save birds from deadly collisions with windows.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With birds returning on their spring migrations, now is an important time to make your windows safer, according to the Bird Collision Prevention Alliance<\/a>, a coalition of agencies, conservation groups, and industry leaders behind the campaign. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTo prevent birds from dying in window strikes, the key is to make glass more visible to birds and reduce nighttime lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make glass more visible to birds, always treat the outside<\/em> of glass. Ensure patterns are spaced 2 inches apart across the entire surface if using paint or window film, or 4 inches apart if hanging up paracord outside the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhen you and I see window frames on buildings, we recognize glass is there,\u201d said Netland. \u201cBirds don\u2019t. They see transparent areas and reflections as habitat and try to fly through it, unaware they are about to collide.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe spacing is key because birds will try to fly through small gaps just like they fly through the canopy of a tree,\u201d Netland explained. \u201cAdding patterns on the outside of glass is most effective because decals or curtains on the inside might not break up reflections on the outside,\u201d Netland said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turning out lights can also help prevent needless injuries and deaths of birds from collisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight now billions of birds are heading north into the United States and Canada after spending the winter in the tropics,\u201d said Adriaan Dokter, a scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who uses radar to detect the number of birds in flight across the continent. \u201cAbout 80 percent of migratory birds travel at night. Artificial light from below attracts them, disrupting their journeys and drawing them into the danger zone near windows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany people think that collisions happen mostly at skyscrapers, but actually far more of them happen at homes 1\u20133 stories high,\u201d Dokter added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers have found<\/a> that 44 percent of deadly window strikes occur at residences 1\u20133 stories high; 56 percent at lowrises up to 11 stories; and less than 1 percent at highrises with 12 stories or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cTurning out nonessential lighting is a simple step that helps keep birds safe, saves energy, and prevents light pollution all at the same time,\u201d Dokter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Data from the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report shows birds are declining steeply across the continent. Making glass safer is one step that everyone can take to help save birds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaking your windows safer for birds is a great feeling,\u201d Netland said. \u201cYou can enjoy your home knowing that your actions are preventing birds from being injured or killed in window strikes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Top 5 Ways to Make Windows Safer for Birds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Purchase and install a bird friendly window product such as Feather Friendly Film or Acopian BirdSavers. See list of products<\/a> tested and rated by the American Bird Conservancy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Get creative with a DIY project<\/a>. Use paint markers or tempera paint with stencils or freeform designs (it\u2019s a fun way to involve kids too!). Or make your own BirdSavers by hanging paracord outside the window, spaced four inches apart. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add exterior window screens\u2013they\u2019ll keep bugs out and help prevent deaths of birds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Install external solar shades or blinds to improve home comfort, save energy, and prevent bird collisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Help keep skies dark for migrating birds. Turn out nonessential indoor and outdoor lights. Pull down shades at night. Add shields on outdoor lamps to direct lighting downward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
More information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- For proven cost effective solutions to reduce window strikes and a pledge page for everyone joining to take action, visit stopbirdcollisions.org from the Bird Collision Prevention Alliance, a coalition of agencies, conservation groups, and industry leaders committed to making our built environment safer for birds. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check out the BirdCast Migration Dashboard at birdcast.info<\/a> to see how many birds are migrating over your county tonight. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>More than 1 billion birds die annually from striking glass in the United States alone, making it the third-largest human-caused threat to bird populations\u2014and most of these deaths happen at ordinary homes, not skyscrapers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’re excited to share DIY solutions that anyone can tackle in a weekend,” said Cady Netland, birdsafe coordinator at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. \u201cWhether kid-friendly painting projects, bird friendly window film, or BirdSavers made with paracord, these projects will help save birds from deadly collisions with windows.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With birds returning on their spring migrations, now is an important time to make your windows safer, according to the Bird Collision Prevention Alliance<\/a>, a coalition of agencies, conservation groups, and industry leaders behind the campaign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To prevent birds from dying in window strikes, the key is to make glass more visible to birds and reduce nighttime lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make glass more visible to birds, always treat the outside<\/em> of glass. Ensure patterns are spaced 2 inches apart across the entire surface if using paint or window film, or 4 inches apart if hanging up paracord outside the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen you and I see window frames on buildings, we recognize glass is there,\u201d said Netland. \u201cBirds don\u2019t. They see transparent areas and reflections as habitat and try to fly through it, unaware they are about to collide.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe spacing is key because birds will try to fly through small gaps just like they fly through the canopy of a tree,\u201d Netland explained. \u201cAdding patterns on the outside of glass is most effective because decals or curtains on the inside might not break up reflections on the outside,\u201d Netland said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning out lights can also help prevent needless injuries and deaths of birds from collisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight now billions of birds are heading north into the United States and Canada after spending the winter in the tropics,\u201d said Adriaan Dokter, a scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who uses radar to detect the number of birds in flight across the continent. \u201cAbout 80 percent of migratory birds travel at night. Artificial light from below attracts them, disrupting their journeys and drawing them into the danger zone near windows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMany people think that collisions happen mostly at skyscrapers, but actually far more of them happen at homes 1\u20133 stories high,\u201d Dokter added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers have found<\/a> that 44 percent of deadly window strikes occur at residences 1\u20133 stories high; 56 percent at lowrises up to 11 stories; and less than 1 percent at highrises with 12 stories or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTurning out nonessential lighting is a simple step that helps keep birds safe, saves energy, and prevents light pollution all at the same time,\u201d Dokter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data from the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report shows birds are declining steeply across the continent. Making glass safer is one step that everyone can take to help save birds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaking your windows safer for birds is a great feeling,\u201d Netland said. \u201cYou can enjoy your home knowing that your actions are preventing birds from being injured or killed in window strikes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Top 5 Ways to Make Windows Safer for Birds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ###<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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