{"id":87,"date":"2019-11-06T05:48:39","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T05:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/viubirdwindowcollisions\/?page_id=87"},"modified":"2020-06-17T16:42:35","modified_gmt":"2020-06-17T16:42:35","slug":"2018-2019","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/viubirdwindowcollisions\/2018-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"RESULTS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An estimated 16 to 42 million birds die from window collisions every year in Canada alone, which is one of the leading causes of declining bird populations (Machtans et al<\/em>., 2013). Bird- window collisions have been found to affect at least 868 species worldwide and 225 species in North America (Klem, 2006, 2015). Researchers have found that the percentage of glass coverage, the reflectivity of the glass, the proximity and the height of nearby vegetation, and internal and external lighting all have an impact on collision rates (Evans Ogden, 2002; Hager et al<\/em>., 2008; Gelb and Delacretaz, 2009; Klem et al<\/em>., 2009; Borden et al<\/em>., 2010; Hager et al<\/em>., 2013; Loss et al<\/em>., 2014; Parkins et al<\/em>., 2015).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locating all birds that collide with windows can be difficult, obscuring the true impact window collisions have on bird populations (Bayne et al., 2012; Kummer et al., 2016). Members of the community can help fill in the gaps by reporting sightings of bird-window collisions, including sightings of birds striking the window, feathers and dust impact marks on windows (figure 1), and dead birds laying near buildings. These reports from the community are called Citizen Science reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 1: Evidence of bird-window collisions. (A) Feathers attached to a highly reflective window at the south wall of building 205 found on June 5, 2018. (B) An impact dust print on a highly reflective window at the south wall of building 193 found on July 17, 2018 by Citizen Science report. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Citizen Science reports <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The results collected from Citizen Science (CS) reports were submitted from the Vancouver Island University (VIU) community including, staff, professors, and students. During the collection period of June 2018 to February 2019 a total of 25 bird-window collisions were reported, while 17 collisions were reported during the September 2017 to February 2018 survey period through CS reports. The following table is a summary of the species collected, from student surveys and CS reports, and identified during both collection periods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These numbers are considered to be a conservative estimate since low detection of bird-window collisions is commonly due to birds camouflaging into the surrounding area, or birds being removed by scavengers completely (Klem, 2006; Borden et al<\/em>., 2010; Klem and Saenger, 2013), or some birds fly away only to die later from brain hemorrhaging (Klem, 1990a,b; Klem et al<\/em>., 2004; Veltri and Klem, 2005; Borden et al<\/em>., 2010; Parkins et al<\/em>., 2015). The VIU community reported bird collisions from all parts of the campus, here is a graph displaying the number of collisions reported at each specific building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 2: Number of bird-window collision collected from Citizen Science reports between September 20, 2017 and May 31, 2018 (grey), and June 5, 2018 and March 1, 2019 (blue), including the Cretaceous Cedar Exhibit (CCE), building 108 (Trades Discovery Centre), building 170 (Shq’apthut- The Gathering Place), building 180 (ASTEC), building 193 (Students’ Union and Pub), building 200 (Student Affairs), building 205 (Career and Academic Preparation), building 250 (Faculty of management), building 300 (Main Cafeteria), building 305 (Library), building 310 (Theatre), building 330 (VIEW Art Gallery), building 345\/340 (Arts and Humanities), building 350 (The High School), building 355 (Arts and Sciences), building 370 (Environmental Sciences), building 373 (Centre of Shellfish Research), and building 380 (Fisheries and Aquaculture).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Most collisions reported involved bird carcasses (figure 3) found near the buildings figured and recorded above (figure 2). Otherwise, the VIU community reported birds striking the windows and then flying off. Although CS reports include carcasses and bird-window collision sightings at any building on campus (figure 2), the study surveys only included buildings 170, 193, 200, 205, 305, 310, 355 and 356 (figure 4).
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Figure 3: Types of bird-window collision evidence submitted through Citizen Science reports from September 20, 2017 to May 31, 2018, and June 5, 2018 to March 1, 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Survey findings and solutions moving forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A total of 167 evidences of window strikes were recorded between September 2017 and February 2018, while a total of 271 evidences were recorded between June 2018 and February 2019 at the eight buildings surveyed at VIU, shown in figure 4. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 4: Number of bird-window collisions during the 2017-2018 (grey) and 2018-2019 (blue) survey periods at the eight buildings surveyed; building 170 (Shq’apthut- The Gathering Place), buildings 193 (Students Union), 200 (Students Affairs), 205 (Academic and Career Preparation), 305 (Library), 310 (the Theatre), 355 (Arts and Sciences), and 365 (Education and Social Sciences) of Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo campus.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

During both survey periods building 355 (Arts and Sciences) had the most bird-window collisions detected (figure 4, 5), accounting for 227 out of the 438 total collisions found. This building is highly reflective and near wooded areas (figure 9), all factors thought to increase the likelihood of increase collision events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 5: Map of bird-window collisions (red dots) found at buildings 193 (Students Union), 200 (Students Affairs), 205 (Academic and Career Preparation), 305 (Library), 310 (the Theatre), 355 (Arts and Sciences), and 365 (Education and Social Sciences) of Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo campus from September 2017 to February 2018 (A<\/strong>), and June 2018 to February 2019 (B<\/strong>). Red circles indicate more than 8 collisions, orange circles indicate 5-8 collisions, and yellow circles indicate 1-4 collisions.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I determined a conservative estimate of approximately 405 bird-window collisions occur every year at the eight buildings surveyed, by averaging the results from the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 surveys and using the fall collision numbers to also represent the spring collisions since fall and spring time collision rates have been found to be similar (Klem, 1989; Hager et al<\/em>., 2008). According to research previously conducted, window collision death rates can range from 23-90% of collisions (Klem et al<\/em>., 2004; Gelb and Delacretaz, 2006), meaning that 93- 364 birds could be dying from campus window collisions annually at these buildings (figure 6). Applying a cost-effective prevention method to building 355 alone could save approximately 200 birds annually from bird-window collisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n