AUTHORS: Ashley Fitch, Ball State University; Emily Peterson, Ball State University; Kamal Islam, Ball State University.
ABSTRACT: Bird-window collisions are a significant source of avian mortality in North America, accounting for 2-9% of bird deaths, with college campuses contributing to 44-56% of these fatalities. This study assesses bird-window strike mortality on the Ball State University campus, where buildings with substantial window surfaces pose risks to migrating birds. Over four academic semesters (September-November 2022 and 2023, February-May 2023 and 2024), five campus buildings were monitored to identify what windows had the highest fatality and the species that were most affected. Data was collected via visual checks of the perimeters of the windows during weekdays. A total of 84 birds were documented, comprising 26 different species and 9 different families. The most collected family was Parulidae, with 20.2%, and the most collected species was Archilochus colubris, with 10.7%. One of our buildings in particular encompassed 50.0% of all species. The study highlighted that buildings with larger and more reflective windows resulted in higher mortality rates. To mitigate these collisions, successful strategies employed at institutions like Duke University and the University of Utah include Feather Friendly vinyl stickers, fritted glass, and ORNILUX UV glass, which achieved up to 84% reductions in collisions. This research serves as a follow-up to previous data collection efforts, aiming to inform architectural practices and establish guidelines for existing and future buildings on campus to enhance bird safety. By promoting bird-friendly designs, Ball State University can contribute to the preservation of avian populations in urban settings.
