Bird Collision Research in Georgia

It has long been known that birds collide with man-made structures (buildings, communication towers and power lines), particularly during migration seasons and severe weather.  Some estimates suggest that between 700 million and 1 billion birds are killed annually by these collisions.  Research has been carried out in a number of cities throughout the nation to assess the extent of bird collisions with buildings in urban areas, and to discover possible ways to decrease the impact of these structures.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division is currently researching this issue in Atlanta with Lee Sexton, a graduate student from the University of Glamorgan (United Kingdom).  This is the first study of its scale conducted in Atlanta.  Lee is working with eight volunteers and is monitoring more than 40 buildings in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead and along the Chattahoochee River.  The study will continue through early October 2005.

If you would like to participate in this study, or notice areas that tend to be a problem for bird collisions in your area, please contact Tim Keyes at (478) 994-1438 or Tim_Keyes@dnr.state.ga.us.

For more information on bird collisions and how you can help make a difference, download the attached fact sheets (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) and visit the following websites:

Fact Sheets:

Clear The Way for Birds! - International Migratory Bird Day Explores Bird Collisions
The Danger of Plate Glass - Understanding and Avoiding that Painful Thud
A Fine Line for Birds - A Guide to Bird Collisions at Power Lines
The Trouble with Towers - A Guide to Bird Collisions at Communications Towers

Websites:

American Bird Conservancy Wind Energy Policy - www.abcbirds.org
Avian Power Line Interaction Committee - www.aplic.org
Birds & Buildings - www.birdsandbuildings.org/index1024.html
Fatal Light Awareness Program - www.flap.org
National Wind Coordinating Committee - www.nationalwind.org
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/