2.0 deaths per home reporting kills. Six homes reported 10 or more bird deaths, with two of the six accounting for 21 deaths each. 0f the 66 species killed in window strikes last winter, most were common feeder visitors. The panic flights of birds escaping raptors contributed to 16% of all reported window strike kills.

The most frequently killed species died approximately in proportion to their abundance at feeders. However, the five most over-represented window-killed species were all woodland or tree loving species, namely the Pine Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Downy Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, and Cedar Waxwing. The five most under-represented species included House Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, Blue Jay, and Chipping Sparrow.

If the data is extrapolated over the entire year, an estimate of 0.55 birds per FeederWatch home are killed in collisions with windows. The best estimate to date before this study was that of Dr. Daniel Klem of the Southern Illinois University who estimated that l to 10 birds are killed annually for every building in the United States.

Dr. Klem has also conducted the first rigorous study of bird window-strike prevention measures. Under his experimental conditions, commonly used deterrents did not reduce window strikes. The most effective window guard turned out to be a closely spaced grid of adhesive strips. However, few people want to obscure their windows to this extent. Four different FeederWatchers reported that plastic garden-protection netting installed about a foot away from the window essentially solved their severe window strike problems. The netting can be mounted in a frame similar to a window-screen to made installation easy. ‘

Share Your Love of Birds With a Friend

Give the bird lovers in your life a truly unique gift this holiday season—a gift membership in Project FeederWatcleou could wait until Christmas. but why not order gift memberships now, so your friends can participate throughout the entire FeederWatch season. .

it‘s easy. Just complete the form below. and your holiday shopping is done! When we receive your order for gift memberships. we‘ll send each recipient a special packet with all the information needed to participate. We‘ll also include a cover letter explaining what Project FeederWatch is all about. And. of course. we‘ll announce that this year-long gift of bird-watching fun and information is a gift from you.

To order. mail this forth (or a letter with the same information) to: Project FeederWatch. 1. mg Pmnl BIN? Observatory. Po. Box 160. Port Rowan. Ontario LAG 28 I.

, . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . .-

Name

William Dilger

Address ‘1 C ity. State/Province, Zip/Postal Code

__Enclosed is Sll for each gift membership. payable to to Long Pmnt Bird observatory.

Editor's Note: The importance of the need for observations from at least 25 feeders cannot be over-stressed. The casual comments offered by observers to the Island Naturalist and to the winter bird feeding workshops indicate large differences between individual feeders. Project FeederNatch is an excellent integation of volunteer birdwatcher sightings and scientific interpretation. Efforts such as this will provide the basis of much of the information required by species managers to aid species in trouble and meet multiple use objectives.

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