Tips for making windows safer for birds

The Billings Gazette highlighted a University of Cincinnati professor's public campaign to raise awareness about the plight of birds that die by the millions across America after striking glass windows.

UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Ronald Canterbury and his students have been conducting a long-term study on bird mortality from window strikes in Cincinnati. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says birds die by the hundreds of millions each year from hitting windows in the United States.

Canterbury said in many cases it's easily preventable. Birds often fly into windows because they see the reflection of tree branches.

The Billings Gazette offered readers some tips for protecting birds around their homes and businesses such as applying glass films with patterns to windows, hanging parachute cord in front of the glass or using tempera or poster paint on the windows.

“Basically, anything that disrupts the reflection of trees in the windows works,” he said.

Read the Billings Gazette story.

Featured image at top: A blue-gray gnatcatcher. UC ornithologist Ronald Canterbury is raising public awareness about simple ways to prevent birds from striking glass windows. Photo/Michael Miller