Over 1 billion birds die yearly from window collisions in the U.S. and Canada, but a groundbreaking Cornell study reveals what actually motivates people to prevent these deadly crashes.

Karmactive Staff

Bird enthusiasts respond best to messages showing how effective prevention measures are, while the general public is more persuaded by emotional appeals showing birds suffering.

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Nearly half of all fatal bird collisions in the U.S. happen at homes under three stories tall, with that number jumping to a shocking 90% in Canada.

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"If we want people to take action to reduce bird collisions, we really have to understand how to communicate with them," explains Cornell researcher Tina Phillips.

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The spacing of window markers matters critically - patterns with dots or decals must be spaced exactly 2 inches apart across the entire window, or birds will try to fly through gaps they perceive as passageways.

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Hanging paracord at 4-inch intervals works too - birds won't try to fly between the cords when properly spaced.

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Did you know people with prior experience of bird collisions, higher education levels, and those believing humans and wildlife are interdependent were more likely to adopt bird-safe windows?

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Surprisingly, messages about personal moral obligation or social influence didn't increase people's intention to treat their windows.

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The proof is in the results: Chicago's McCormick Place saw a 95% reduction in bird collisions after applying dot film following a tragic night when 1,000 birds died.

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Other proven solutions include exterior window screens, one-way transparent films like Collidescape, and "zen curtains" (Acopian BirdSavers) - closely spaced cords that hang in front of windows.

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Older adults and males were less likely to take window safety action - a key insight for conservation messaging.

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Visit stopbirdcollisions.org to learn more about how you can help prevent the billion annual bird deaths from window strikes.

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