|
Overview + How To Help + News Links + Data Entry + Data Review + History + WTC |
  |
Windows kill millions of birds each year... Most New Yorkers don't know that their city is on a flight path for millions of migratory birds. Twice a year hundreds of species of birds, many of whom are experiencing long-term population declines, travel thousands of miles on their extraordinary journeys to and from breeding and wintering grounds in the western hemisphere. These amazing animals navigate from areas as far south as South and Central America, to as far north as Canada, using a variety of cues to keep them on course. These migrations have always been dangerous, but have become even more perilous as birds navigate through and around our cities. It is estimated that 100 million birds are killed every year in the United States alone through collisions with buildings. Second only to habitat loss as a cause of declining populations, some experts believe the number is even higher, perhaps as many as one billion killed annually. The height of tall buildings in New York City, the frequent use of reflective or simply transparent glass, and the illumination of, and within, these structures is a major component of injury and mortality for birds. We do not know exactly how many birds are killed by collisions with buildings in New York City, but we do know they are experiencing disturbing levels of mortality and injury. A small cadre of dedicated volunteers have patrolled the perimeters of several buildings in New York City, during spring and fall migrations, since 1997. To date, the field volunteers have found more than 4,000 birds who were injured or dead. These casualties have been experienced by over 100 species, The most frequently harmed species include White-throated Sparrows, the Common Yellowthroat, and Ovenbirds, all pictured above. The good news is that there are things we can do right now to reduce the dangers glass and lights pose, and make migration safer this spring. That's what Project Safe Flight is all about. We hope to achieve the following to improve outcomes for birds, and while we're at it, conserve energy and achieve cost savings for building owners and managers. 1 . Lights Out New York. The Bloomberg administration has endorsed this program to turn out external lights of tall buildings between midnight and 6 AM and shield interior lights as well. In fact, the Empire State Building is setting an example by becoming the icon building for this project. We hope to enlist the cooperation of many other buildings that pose a similar hazard. 2 . Make Glass Visible. We are working with building owners and others to reduce mortality from glass strikes during the day and promote design solutions to mitigate the problem. 3. Volunteer Network. We are building a network of volunteers to rescue injured birds, and participate in outreach and education programs. 4. Promote Research. We will continue to use our field volunteers to continue to collect and report data, which will be analyzed. We will also solicit funding to conduct more extensive research into the issue. Won't you join NYC Audubon and help us achieve the goals of Project Safe Flight? We need volunteers to join our efforts and work together to make spring migration 2005 a safer one for these incredible animals. Click here to e-mail us at volunteer@nycaudubon.org Project Safe Flight Resources |
