Efficacy of window treatments to prevent bird-window collisions in Ottawa
Every year in Canada, 16-42 million birds are killed from colliding with windows.
Bird-safe window treatments have been tested and are known to reduce collision mortality, yet treating windows remains rare. In collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Safe Wings Ottawa, we are exploring the efficacy of window treatments to reduce bird-window collisions. By engaging with community scientists, conducting collision surveys and measuring risk factors, we are creating a predictive model of collision rates. We aim to assess efficacy of window treatments by comparing found numbers of collisions at treated windows with the predicted number of collisions if the window were untreated. The results of this study will support advocacy work and better understand window treatments as a solution to make urban spaces safer for birds.
Stasha Lysyk, MSc student with the Biodiversity Conservation Solutions team, collecting a collision victim in downtown Ottawa.
Dr. Rachel Buxton and Stasha Lysyk eBike around the City of Ottawa checking out treated windows
A male Indigo Bunting migrating to breeding grounds from the Gulf of Mexico, found dead after colliding in downtown Ottawa.