Date: November 19, 2015
Source: University of Alberta
Getting in touch with nature in
an urbanized world can be as simple as putting a bird feeder in your backyard.
However, what are the potential consequences of this act? Bird-window
collisions are one of the largest threats facing urban bird populations in
Canada. A new study out of the University of Alberta engages citizen scientists
to determine the effects of feeders on bird-window collisions.
Despite the popularity of feeding
wild birds, the effects of bird feeders and year-round feeding on birds have
not been well documented, particularly in relationship to bird-window
collisions. "Backyard bird feeders create an important link between humans
and nature," says Justine Kummer, a graduate student at the University of
Alberta and lead author of the study, the first ever to manipulate bird feeders
at actual residential houses. "Improving the relationship between the
general public and nature can promote biodiversity and conservation. We are
working to find successful ways to reduce bird-window collisions, beneficial
not only for birds but also for the millions of people who feed them."
In Canada, it is estimated that
up to 42 million birds die each year from collisions with windows, with
residential homes accounting for 90% of building-related mortality. Trials were
conducted on 55 windows at 43 residences in Edmonton and the surrounding area.
Homeowners were asked to search their study window daily for evidence of
bird-window collisions. Though there were 94 reported collisions with the
presence of a bird feeder, there were also 51 collisions in cases when no
feeder was present, meaning there is no black and white answer. Twenty-six of
the windows never experienced a collision during the study, showing that some
houses are more at risk than others, regardless of the presence of the feeder.
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