Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years
Background Research on bird-window collision mitigation is needed to prevent up to a billion bird fatalities yearly in the U.S. At the University of Utah campus (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), past research documented collisions, especially for Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) drawn to fruiting orn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2021-07-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/11867.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827608120158846976 |
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| author | Barbara B. Brown Sabrina Santos Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela |
| author_facet | Barbara B. Brown Sabrina Santos Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela |
| author_sort | Barbara B. Brown |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Research on bird-window collision mitigation is needed to prevent up to a billion bird fatalities yearly in the U.S. At the University of Utah campus (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), past research documented collisions, especially for Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) drawn to fruiting ornamental pears in winter. Mirrored windows, which have a metallic coating that turns window exteriors into mirrors, had frequent collisions, which were mitigated when Feather Friendly®bird deterrent markers were applied. Bird-friendly windows–ORNILUX®ultraviolet (UV) and fritted windows–also reduced collisions when data were collected across fall and winter. Extending this prior research, we evaluated additional mitigation and tested the replicability of effects for pear trees, mirrored windows, and bird-friendly windows across two years. Methods Using published data from eight buildings monitored for collisions in year 1 (Fall and Winter, 2019–2020), we added another year of monitoring, Fall and Winter, 2020–2021. Between years, Feather Friendly®mitigation markers were added to collision-prone areas of two buildings, including both mirrored and transparent windows. Results The two buildings that received new Feather Friendly®mitigation had significantly fewer collisions post-mitigation. Control areas also had nonsignificant decline in collisions. The interaction of area (mitigation vs. control) by time (year 1 vs. 2) was significant, based on generalized estimating equations (GEE). The total yearly collisions across all eight buildings declined from 39 to 23. A second GEE analysis of all 8 buildings showed that mirrored windows, pear trees, and bird-friendly windows were each significant when analyzed separately. The best-fit model showed more collisions for mirrored windows and fewer collisions for bird-friendly windows. We found pear tree proximity to be related to more collisions in winter than fall. In addition, pear trees showed reduced collisions from year 1 to 2, consistent with new mitigation for two of three buildings near pear trees. Discussion Feather Friendly® markers can mitigate collisions with transparent windows, not only mirrored windows, compared to unmitigated areas over 2 years. Results also underscore the dangers of pear tree proximity and mirrored windows and the efficacy of bird-friendly windows. Thus, bird collisions can be prevented by window mitigation, permanent bird-friendly windows, and landscape designs that avoid creating ecological traps. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:06:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e768305a1c44a5a841fd5cf2fe1f239 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:06:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e768305a1c44a5a841fd5cf2fe1f2392023-12-03T09:30:18ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-07-019e1186710.7717/peerj.11867Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two yearsBarbara B. Brown0Sabrina Santos1Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela2Family & Consumer Studies Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of AmericaEnvironmental and Sustainability Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of AmericaEnvironmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of AmericaBackground Research on bird-window collision mitigation is needed to prevent up to a billion bird fatalities yearly in the U.S. At the University of Utah campus (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), past research documented collisions, especially for Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) drawn to fruiting ornamental pears in winter. Mirrored windows, which have a metallic coating that turns window exteriors into mirrors, had frequent collisions, which were mitigated when Feather Friendly®bird deterrent markers were applied. Bird-friendly windows–ORNILUX®ultraviolet (UV) and fritted windows–also reduced collisions when data were collected across fall and winter. Extending this prior research, we evaluated additional mitigation and tested the replicability of effects for pear trees, mirrored windows, and bird-friendly windows across two years. Methods Using published data from eight buildings monitored for collisions in year 1 (Fall and Winter, 2019–2020), we added another year of monitoring, Fall and Winter, 2020–2021. Between years, Feather Friendly®mitigation markers were added to collision-prone areas of two buildings, including both mirrored and transparent windows. Results The two buildings that received new Feather Friendly®mitigation had significantly fewer collisions post-mitigation. Control areas also had nonsignificant decline in collisions. The interaction of area (mitigation vs. control) by time (year 1 vs. 2) was significant, based on generalized estimating equations (GEE). The total yearly collisions across all eight buildings declined from 39 to 23. A second GEE analysis of all 8 buildings showed that mirrored windows, pear trees, and bird-friendly windows were each significant when analyzed separately. The best-fit model showed more collisions for mirrored windows and fewer collisions for bird-friendly windows. We found pear tree proximity to be related to more collisions in winter than fall. In addition, pear trees showed reduced collisions from year 1 to 2, consistent with new mitigation for two of three buildings near pear trees. Discussion Feather Friendly® markers can mitigate collisions with transparent windows, not only mirrored windows, compared to unmitigated areas over 2 years. Results also underscore the dangers of pear tree proximity and mirrored windows and the efficacy of bird-friendly windows. Thus, bird collisions can be prevented by window mitigation, permanent bird-friendly windows, and landscape designs that avoid creating ecological traps.https://peerj.com/articles/11867.pdfBirdWindow collision/strikePreventionReflective windowsBird-friendly windowCollision deterrent film |
| spellingShingle | Barbara B. Brown Sabrina Santos Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years PeerJ Bird Window collision/strike Prevention Reflective windows Bird-friendly window Collision deterrent film |
| title | Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years |
| title_full | Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years |
| title_fullStr | Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years |
| title_short | Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years |
| title_sort | bird window collisions mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years |
| topic | Bird Window collision/strike Prevention Reflective windows Bird-friendly window Collision deterrent film |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/11867.pdf |
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