Preventing Window Collisions

Birds cannot see clear glass, and as a result it is estimated that up to 1 billion birds are killed by window collisions each year.

To help curb the problem, researchers at Powdermill are using this bird flight tunnel to safely test bird responses to different types of glass designed to be visible to birds.

Researchers test glass visibility by gently placing birds in one end of the tunnel. At the other end are two different types of glass panes. The bird chooses its “exit,” revealing to researchers what glass they can see and what glass they cannot see.

Before the birds hit the glass, a net gently stops them, and they are released.

If you see a dead or injured bird near a building or glass façade, contact BirdSafe Pittsburgh, who is gathering data on window collisions. For more information about found birds, visit BirdSafe Pittsburgh’s website.