Help with Educational Video: Saving Birds from Window Strikes

Parachute cord treatment to reduce window strikes by birds.

Bird populations worldwide have declined by over 3 billion individuals since 1970, and one of the major contributors to this alarming decrease is bird-window collisions. This issue disproportionately affects migratory birds—those that travel seasonally from one region to another—making areas like Tallahassee, which lies at the intersection of major migratory flyways, especially vulnerable.

During migration, thousands of birds pass through Tallahassee at night, navigating through residential areas and encountering hazardous glass windows. These collisions not only harm birds but can also disrupt local ecosystems.

Two key measures can help reduce bird-window collisions:

1. Lights Out Initiatives: Migratory birds can be disoriented or blinded by bright lights at night. By turning off unnecessary lights or using dimmers, you can help reduce collisions.

2. Window Treatments: Making windows visible to birds through physical barriers or designs can prevent them from flying into glass. Options include:

   • UV or regular dot stickers

   • Zen curtains

   • Tempera paint designs

   • Fritted glass or window wraps

The Spoonbill Society, FSU’s student birding organization, in collaboration with the Apalachee Audubon Society, is actively working to reduce bird-window collisions across Tallahassee. We’ve been surveying bird-window strikes on the FSU campus and speaking with administration to explore potential solutions. Now, we’re hoping to expand our efforts to residential areas in Tallahassee.

As part of this initiative, we will be creating educational videos that will be posted on the Apalachee Audubon website and YouTube channel. These videos will help residents understand the importance of preventing bird-window collisions and how they can implement effective measures at home.

We’re looking for individuals who have already implemented bird-window collision prevention measures in their homes or buildings. If you’ve used window treatments or participated in Lights Out initiatives, we’d love to hear about your experience. 

If you’re interested in sharing your treatments and advice while having it featured in our upcoming videos, please reach out to us at:
Email: jew22@fsu.edu
Phone: 786-999-4365

Any advice or comments are also welcome!