As populations of native birds decline, many bird conservationists are searching for ways to prevent these fatalities.
Predicting More Than Storms
NEXRAD radar can follow — and perhaps end up preventing — bird collisions
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ew research conducted by Oklahoma State University scientists and published in the Journal of Applied Ecology indicates weather radars can predict more than the next storm: They are effective tools for predicting bird collisions. As many as 1 billion birds die each year from colliding with windows or buildings. The victims are native species — a diverse array of birds in the North American avifauna, such as warblers, thrushes, hummingbirds, sparrows and orioles, that fly into structures during spring or fall migrations. Declining populations of native birds
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are alarming many bird conservationists, who are searching for ways to prevent these fatalities. “A lot of the birds that collide are nocturnal migrants that fly primarily at night because they’re so small and have such a high metabolism that they’d overheat in the daytime,” said Scott Loss, an OSU associate professor of natural resource ecology and management. “The effects of light pollution in cities and around tall buildings can attract and confuse these migrating birds, causing them to collide.” Many birds travel overnight, using the stars and other orientation cues, such as sensing
STORY GAIL ELLIS | PHOTOS TODD JOHNSON AND SHUTTERSTOCK
