Bird-Strike Risk Factors and Prevention in Atlanta Open Access

Abstract

Many bird populations are declining rapidly because of anthropogenic activity. Collisions with man-made structures is among the largest causes of bird mortality, with estimates reaching over 1 billion collisions per year in North America. Birds collide with buildings because they do not recognize windows as physical barriers, but bird deterrent window treatments have been developed to alert birds to a window’s presence. Prior research has identified overnight lighting, proximity to trees, window reflection of vegetation, window percentage, and total window area as potential risk factors influencing bird-window collisions. This study identified bird strikes on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fall 2022 along with previously reported strikes in Fall 2019. The relative danger of the identified risk factors at strike locations was analyzed along with the proportions of bird-strikes by taxonomic families. Weather during migration was also analyzed for potential effects on collision likelihood. Bird deterrent tape was also applied to a known bird-collision hot spot to test its marketed efficacy. Distance to vegetation did not prove significant in explaining bird strike locations, and bird deterrent tape showed only anecdotal decrease in bird strikes. All analyzed facades had both tree reflections and overnight lighting, so no significant relationship with strikes could be recognized. Percent window coverage was strongly positively correlated with bird strike risk, while total window area was negatively correlated with strike risk. Average daily windspeed, minimum temperature, and precipitation did not significantly influence bird strikes in 2022, but both minimum temperature and precipitations showed significant correlation to bird strikes in 2019. These findings will hopefully influence building designers and managers to prioritize management of risk factors to reduce bird-collision risk most effectively and efficiently.

Table of Contents

Abstract…iv

List of Tables…vii

List of Figures…viii

Acknowledgements…ix

I.              Introduction…1 II.            Methods…3 a.     Collision Surveys…3 b.    Risk Factors…4 c.     Bird Deterrent Application…5 d.    Analysis…5 III.          Results…6 a.     Bird Strikes…7 b.    Risk Factors…13 c.     Weather Effects…16 d.    Bird Deterrent Tape…20 IV.          Discussion…21 a.     Limitations…21 b.    Possible Confounding Factors…22 c.     Mitigation…22                                                i.     Overnight Lighting…22                                              ii.     Tree Reflections…23                                            iii.     Architecture…24                                             iv.     Weather Effects…25 d.    Bird Deterrent Effectiveness…27 V.            Conclusion…28 VI.          References…29

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Environmental Sciences
Degree	M.S.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Environmental Sciences Biology, Zoology
Keyword	Bird-strike
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. John Wegner, Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. Julie Clennon, Emory University Dr. Gonzolo Vazquez-Prokopec, Emory University

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