Buildings with large windows, which are increasingly common in large cities, cause great harm to birds, causing the death of more than a billion birds each year in the United States after being crushed.
Consequently, nearly 60 percent of birds brought to wildlife rehabilitation centers or veterinary emergencies die from this cause, either by succumbing to their injuries or by being euthanized, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Public Library of Science Journal.
Birds often suffer head injuries or concussions after hitting glass. In general, the larger the bird, the more likely it is to recover, researchers say.
Unlike humans, birds cannot distinguish between the outdoors and glass. They only see the reflection that sometimes falls off nearby plants.
“We can't rely on rehabilitation alone to solve this kind of problem,” said R. Kornreich, the study's lead author and a researcher at Fordham University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, according to CBS News.
One recommended solution is to put 2″ x 4″ tape on the windows, or stickers so that birds don't even think of flying through the glass.
The number of birds in North America has declined by about 3 billion since 1970, according to a Cornell lab study.
