Photo: Becky K.

Hermit Thrush (Bldg. 27B).

Photo: Becky K.

One of the saddest pictures so far, Dark-eyed Junco (HY) (Bldg. 12D).

Photo: Becky K.

Golden-crowned Kinglet remains (Bldg. 3C).

Photo: Becky K.

Mourning Dove remains (Bldg. 7D).

Virginia Tech researcher works to protect birds from windows

Posted: Nov 20, 2014 10:54 PM EST Updated: Nov 20, 2014 11:39 PM EST By Bethany Teague, New River Valley Reporter

BLACKSBURG (WSLS) - After a bird collided with her office window last year, one Virginia Tech researcher decided it was time to act.  Rebecca Schneider formed a team of volunteers to investigate the issue of birds being hurt or killed from flying into windows.

In one year, the team documented more than 200 bird deaths in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center alone.

But the problem does not stop there.  It is estimated that almost a billion birds die across the U.S. each year from window collisions.

The team is hoping to eventually receive grant money to further this study. 

http://www.wsls.com/story/27445728/virginia-tech-researcher-works-to-protect-birds-from-windows

Photos: Mary and Pat

 Working on ID (Bldg. 3C).

Working on ID.  2nd feather pile from Bldg. 3C.

For the birds

"Architects must limit the amount and type of glass on the first three floors of a building, considered the most dangerous area for birds, to earn the LEED credit for bird-safe design. Only 15 percent of all glazed surfaces on the bottom floors can be clear glass; texture, color or opacity must be added to the remaining glass to reduce threats from transparency or reflections."

"Glass treatment must be applied to the exterior to be effective, Brand said."

"Protective screens and shutters also deter birds by minimizing a bird’s exposure to transparent or reflective glass."

"Architect Eric Jabaley of Dogwood Design Studio said more affordable solutions from window manufacturers are needed to make bird-friendly designs appealing. He said most of his clients request as many windows as possible and set strict project budgets."

http://luminanews.com/2014/11/for-the-birds/

This male House Finch (Bldg. 15C) was reported to me yesterday afternoon.  When I found him it was cold and windy, he was sitting in a puddle.  I kept him in a paper bag in my office to warm up and recover for about an hour.  I then took him outside to see if he could fly away, he could not.  I brought him back inside and called a local bird rehabber.  She recommended keeping him overnight to recover since it was getting late and the temperatures were going to drop into the teens. 

Unfortunately, the trauma was too much and he didn't survive the window collision.  I often get inspiration from Lynne Parks.  Lynne is a volunteer with Lights out Baltimore.  She recently asked me to participate in an art exhibit in March to raise awareness of bird-window collisions.  I am thrilled and honored at this opportunity.

Taking photos help make sure these birds are memorialized in some way - that their deaths can help move this issue to the forefront of people's minds.  I had to find a fitting way to capture this House Finch.  I hope I did.

Virginia Tech news story!!

The HokieBird is helping us get the word out about this threat to birds.

http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2014/11/111714-cnre-birdwindowcollisions.html

How Better Glass Can Save Hundreds of Millions of Birds a Year

"The paucity of data on the effectiveness of various techniques for reducing bird-window collisions in a real-world setting is a problem for architects and glass manufacturers who have to put these ideas into practice."

"A lot of the advice conservation organizations give to architects is along the lines of "don't use a lot of glass near big bodies of water," says Sheppard. "Well, how close is near and how big is large?" she asks. "Architects are used to using things they can measure."

OUR project in the news!!!

Volunteer Researchers Work to Prevent Bird Collisions

http://wvtf.org/post/volunteer-researchers-work-prevent-bird-collisions

Photo: Kara K.

Sparrow, not yet identified (Bldg. 21A).

A memorial commemorating Silver Spring environmental advocate Rachel Carson in a Ripley Street pocket park has one man wondering if it’s a hazard to birds.

http://www.gazette.net/article/20141112/NEWS/141119774&template=gazette

Cedar Waxwing (Bldg. 2D).

Photos: Kara K.

2nd Golden-crowned Kinglet in 2 weeks (Bldg. 7C).

Dark-eyed Junco (Bldg. 12D).

White-throated Sparrow (Bldg. 30C).

Photo: Becky K.

Interesting, this bird was first found on 9/21/14.  Northern Mockingbird (Bldg. 17B).

Urban ecologist conducts research for the birds

http://news.fiu.edu/2014/11/urban-ecologist-conducts-research-for-the-birds/82482

Photos: Julia M.

 NEW SPECIES - Brown Creeper.

Golden-crowned Kinglet.

Photo: Kara K.

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Bldg. 12D).

Nature is full of surprises!  This Blue-headed Vireo (Bldg. 11C) was just reported at 3:00pm today.  I went over to document it and as I held it in my hand, I was gently dive-bombed by a hawk, a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's.  It was so close I could feel the soft breeze from its wing against my face! I wish I had gotten a better look at it.  Maybe this vireo was chased for some time until it crashed into the window?  I'll never know the details of what happened, or what species of hawk it was, but I will certainly never forget!  Hopefully the hawk will come back and finish what it started.