birdsafepgh

September 27, 2021 by birdsafepgh

Home installation at Cathy and Cheryl’s

In August, we began installing window films on problematic windows at the homes of our volunteers. These volunteers spent the past year collecting data on where birds strike windows at their home. Using this data, we determined which windows were problematic for bird collisions and offered some treatments that could be installed on the windows. The volunteer chose which films they wanted and we helped them install it on their windows.

Kathy and Cheryl have been collecting bird-window collision data for over a year and this fall finally got their windows retrofitted with films. They chose a specially ordered film from Collidescape. The film is designed like a tape that when peeled off the window leaves dots in a grid following the 2” by 4” rule. This pattern looked like flying bluebirds and was made of a clear fritted plastic (see below). This film was installed on five windows at their home. They also chose a sheet film that is made by Collidescape and covers the entire window (see below). This was installed on two of their windows. More info on films made by collidescape can be found here.

Contact us with more information on how to get films like these on YOUR home, or check out our “Why birds hit windows” page for more information on window collisions and treatment options.

September 22, 2021 by birdsafepgh

Fall 2017 Summary

The Fall 2017 BirdSafe Pittsburgh monitoring season has come to an end. In this post we will summarize the season and look at how many birds of what species were found by volunteers. As always this project could not be done without the tireless dedication of our volunteers. Our thanks goes out to them as we look back on another season of BirdSafe Pittsburgh.

In general we had a different fall than usual. September started out cold but ended up unseasonably warm. This was the same throughout the Northeast United States. The longer lasting warmer weather allowed insects to stick around keeping birds around as well. The birds did eventually leave, but not en masse like we normally see. Instead we had birds trickling through over many weeks. This trickle was reflected in how many birds were found by volunteers throughout the fall, as shown in Figures 1-3 below.

Number of birds found in July and August of 2017

Off Season	# birds found
7/21/2017	0
7/25/2017	0
7/28/2017	0
8/1/2017	0
8/2/2017	0
8/3/2017	0
8/4/2017	0
8/7/2017	1
8/8/2017	0
8/10/2017	0
8/11/2017	0
8/15/2017	0
8/17/2017	1
8/18/2017	0
8/22/2017	1
8/24/2017	0
8/25/2017	0
8/28/2017	1
8/29/2017	1
8/31/2017	1
Grand Total	6

Figure 1. Number of birds found in July and August, 2017

Number of birds found in September 2017

September	# birds found
9/6/2017	3
9/7/2017	2
9/8/2017	11
9/9/2017	1
9/10/2017	0
9/12/2017	3
9/13/2017	1
9/14/2017	5
9/15/2017	0
9/16/2017	2
9/17/2017	3
9/18/2017	8
9/19/2017	4
9/20/2017	2
9/21/2017	2
9/22/2017	5
9/23/2017	5
9/24/2017	1
9/25/2017	0
9/26/2017	4
9/27/2017	1
9/28/2017	2
9/29/2017	0
9/30/2017	6
Grand Total	72

Figure 2. Number of birds found in September, 2017

Number of birds found in October 2017

October	# birds found
10/1/2017	5
10/2/2017	3
10/3/2017	11
10/4/2017	1
10/5/2017	1
10/6/2017	0
10/7/2017	1
10/8/2017	1
10/9/2017	0
10/10/2017	2
10/11/2017	1
10/12/2017	0
10/13/2017	1
10/14/2017	0
10/15/2017	1
10/16/2017	4
10/17/2017	2
10/18/2017	1
10/19/2017	0
10/20/2017	0
10/21/2017	1
10/22/2017	1
10/23/2017	0
10/24/2017	0
10/25/2017	0
10/26/2017	1
10/27/2017	4
10/28/2017	3
10/29/2017	2
10/30/2017	0
10/31/2017	3
Grand Total	50

Figure 3. Number of birds found in October, 2017

This fall we found a lower number of birds found than we have in past fall seasons. In total we found 128 birds, 104 dead and 24 alive. The live birds were transported to Humane Animal Rescue’s wildlife center in Verona where they were treated and released. Over the past two previous years we found remarkably similar number of birds in the fall. In 2015 we found 171 birds, 105 dead and 65 alive. Then in the fall of 2016 we found 173 birds, 124 dead, and 48 alive. So, similar to this past spring, we saw a decline in the number of birds found.

Number of live and dead birds found in Fall 2017

Live vs Dead	# of birds
Dead	104
Stunned	24
Grand Total	128

Figure 4. Number of live and dead birds found in the fall of 2017

Of the 128 birds we found this fall none were new to BirdSafe Pittsburgh. You can find some images of birds found during the fall season at the bottom of the page. Also visit the Volunteer page to learn how you can help BirdSafe Pittsburgh make Pittsburgh a safer place for birds.

Total birds found in Fall 2017

Species of Birds	# of birds
Acadian Flycatcher	1
American Goldfinch	1
American Redstart	2
American Robin	2
Bay-breasted warbler	4
Black-and-White Warbler	4
Blackpoll Warbler	1
Brown Creeper	1
Cape May Warbler	1
Cedar Waxwing	5
Chestnut-sided Warbler	1
Common Grackle	1
Common Yellowthroat	7
Connecticut Warbler	1
Dark-eyed Junco	1
Downy Woodpecker	1
Eastern wood-pewee	1
Eastern wood-pewee	3
European Starling	1
Gray Catbird	7
Gray-cheeked Thrush	3
Hermit Thrush	2
Hooded Warbler	1
House Finch	1
House Sparrow	3
Kentucky Warbler	1
Magnolia Warbler	6
Mourning Dove	2
Nashville Warbler	2
Northern Flicker	1
Ovenbird	11
Red-eyed Vireo	1
Rock Pigeon	6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	3
Song Sparrow	2
Swainson’s Thrush	1
Tennessee Warbler	9
Unknown Sparrow	1
Unknown Species	5
Unknown Warbler Spp.	8
White-throated Sparrow	6
Wilson’s Warbler	1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	5
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	1
Grand Total	128

Figure 5. Number of birds found in the fall of 2017

September 21, 2021 by birdsafepgh

Volunteer Perspective Series: No. 2 –

Author: Donna, BirdSafe Pittsburgh volunteer

My name is Donna and I have been with BirdSafe Pittsburgh for a little over a year now. Matt mentioned BirdSafe Pittsburgh during a banding demonstration back in 2014 at my home. I had several birds hit my windows over the years, including a red tail hawk! It left a dust print on my window, which I took a picture of, and was amazed he got up and flew away. I never thought to put something over the glass, so just kept the shade down. I had several birds die from window strikes and it upset me tremendously. I was in tears many times when taking the dead birds to the wildlife center. After talking to Matt, he stated that BirdSafe Pittsburgh would install a treatment on my windows since I was participating in the BirdSafe Pittsburgh program as a Residential Monitor. I couldn’t wait to have it on so no more birdies would lose their lives. Matt and Jon came out on a hot and sunny day and applied it to my front and back windows that had the most strikes. I believe my windows were on the BirdSafe Pittsburgh website to show how wonderful they looked. When I mentioned about the strikes on my glass sliding door, he installed dots on it as well. I have had no strikes on these windows since they were applied, but then had strikes on a few others so I applied a covering on them. Knock on wood, I’m happy to say, I haven’t had any strikes for several months. I continue to monitor around my home and enjoy doing it. Thank goodness for BirdSafe Pittsburgh and thanks again Matt for making me aware.

September 15, 2021 by birdsafepgh

Home Installation at Carol’s

Carol Azar has been collecting bird-window collision data for us for over a year, and this summer finally got her windows retrofitted with films. She chose Acopian Birdsavers, that are made of paracord instead of a plastic film. They hang freely in front of the problem window (see below). Acopian Birdsavers were designed by Jeff Acopian, more information can be found at their website here.

Contact us with more information on how to get films like these on YOUR home, or check out our “Why birds hit windows” page for more information on window collisions and treatment options.

September 15, 2021 by birdsafepgh

Window Retrofittings at the Frick Environmental Center

The new Frick Environmental Center (FEC) is a model of sustainability, but even green buildings can have problems with bird-window collisions. Over the past two years the staff of the FEC have monitored the windows at the building and found a few that needed retrofitting. This fall we installed a film on two windows at the FEC. They chose a film called “Rain” by Collidescape which looks like a field of white dots (see below). The windows were tall and took many sheets to cover completely. A few windows are still in need of retrofitting and Acopian Birdsavers are going to be installed on them in the near future.

Contact us with more information on how to get films like these on YOUR home, or check out our “Why birds hit windows” page for more information on window collisions and treatment options.

September 3, 2021 by birdsafepgh

Home installation at Marilyn’s

Marilyn has been collecting bird-window collision data for over a year and this fall finally got her windows retrofitted with films. She chose a specially ordered film from Collidescape. The film is designed like a tape that when peeled off the window leaves dots in a grid following the 2” by 4” rule. This pattern looks like flying bluebirds and is made of a clear fritted plastic (see below). This film was installed on two windows at her home. More info on films made by collidescape can be found here.

Contact us with more information on how to get films like these on YOUR home, or check out our “Why birds hit windows” page for more information on window collisions and treatment options.