PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION: Reducing the Number of Window-Bird Collisions at Your Home and in Your Neighborhood
Sponsored by Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc.
PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION is an international study of window-bird collisions that will investigate the extent to which birds collide with windows and examine factors that influence the number of window-bird collisions that occur. The study asks individuals to provide information about window-bird collisions in the past and present, to describe architectural features of the home, as well as characteristics of the yard and neighborhood. By pooling together data from each home, we will become better informed about window-bird collisions, learn more about where they occur, and how future collisions at your home and in your neighborhood can be prevented. Whether you have experienced a window-bird collision at your home or not, please consider participating.

Why do we need to conduct PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION? The facts about window-bird collisions are startling. In North America, between 100 million and 1 billion birds die in collisions with windows each year. To put this into perspective, on average every building in the United States has 1-10 fatal collisions per year! Why do birds collide with windows? Window-bird collisions occur because birds do not recognize clear and reflective windows as barriers. Windows either reflect the outside environment or create a see-through effect whereby birds see through two clear windows parallel to one another and attempt to fly through to the other side. Either way, too many birds are being lost to collisions with windows.

While window-bird collisions represent a significant source of avian mortality, our understanding of the relative risk of certain characteristics that influence the number of window bird collisions is limited. This is why we need your help. We would like to invite you to participate in PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION as a citizen scientist. We ask for approximately three hours of your time over a four-week period. In return, you may help save a wild bird's life.

What do I need to do to participate in PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION?
We have prepared a series of survey questions that inquire about the architecture of your home, and the surrounding landscape. You will also be asked questions inquiring about past bird collisions that occurred, and will be given a procedure to follow to investigate whether window-bird collisions are occurring around the home now. Whether you have collisions occur at the home or not, your data is critical to the success of this scientific study.

Five easy steps to participate in PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION:
     - Fill out the Personal Information Form
     - Fill out the General Survey Form
     - Fill out the Past History Survey Form
     - Follow the protocol and fill out the Present Survey Form
     - The 4 completed forms should be sent to:

In order to open & download      all forms, you will need      Adobe Acrobat Reader:

Dr. David J. Horn        PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION        Department of Biology        Millikin University        1184 West Main Street        Decatur, IL 62522

If you have any questions, contact Dr. Horn at 217-424-6392 or via e-mail at drhorn at wildbird.com. Thank you for serving as a citizen scientist for PROJECT PREVENT COLLISION!

Why do birds collide with windows?
V

Windows have high reflectivity.


Corridors of windows are not recognized.