Increased Bird Collision Incidents Spark Conservation Efforts in Chicago
CHICAGO — At dawn, Annette Prince navigates a downtown plaza with a neon-green net, on the lookout for injured birds. Her keen eyes soon spot a tiny yellow Nashville warbler resting on the concrete. After netting the bird, she carefully places it in a labeled paper bag, noting its unfortunate encounter with a glass window.
As the director of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, Prince sees this scene unfold countless times each spring and fall, a direct consequence of migrating birds colliding with buildings in the bustling city. Last fall, tragedy struck when 1,000 birds died overnight after crashing into the glass exterior of McCormick Place, Chicago’s lakefront convention center. This fall, in response to such incidents, the facility has implemented a $1.2 million bird-safe window film on its Lakeside Center building, covering an area equivalent to two football fields with tiny dots designed to reduce collisions.
Doug Stotz, a senior conservation ecologist at a local museum, reported promising early results, estimating that only 20 birds have collided with the building’s glass this fall, a significant decrease compared to previous years.
"The data is still limited since this initiative just started, but preliminary results indicate a substantial improvement," Stotz stated.
Prince and her team diligently document the plight of birds injured in collisions, advocating for better building designs, lighting solutions, and awareness to mitigate the growing number of bird fatalities in Chicago and beyond. She highlighted that the city’s location along a vital migratory path, combined with excessive artificial lighting, exacerbates the issue.
Injured birds often find refuge at local wildlife rehabilitation centers, where veterinarians work tirelessly to treat them. On a recent morning at one such center, a yellow-bellied sapsucker arrived with a note indicating a window collision. Following an examination, veterinarians discovered a broken ulna in its wing.
The center rehabilitates around 10,000 animals annually, with approximately 65% being birds, many of which are victims of window collisions. During peak migration periods, the facility can receive hundreds of injured birds in a single day.
"The majority of these birds do survive and are released back into the wild once they receive treatment," noted the head veterinarian, emphasizing the rapid healing capabilities of many avian injuries.
After undergoing flight testing and comprehensive examinations, the recovered birds are returned to their natural habitats. "It’s exhilarating to release them back into the wild, especially when we successfully treat challenging cases," the veterinarian remarked, underscoring the dedication and passion behind these rehabilitation efforts.
