KATIE L. GRANT
28 wnrmag.com
cies if we act now. Here are some steps you can take to help protect the safety of our feathered friends. WINDOW COLLISIONS Between the reflections made in windows that birds mistake for open spaces and the sheer transparency of the glass, windows can be a serious concern for these migrating animals. As many as 1 billion birds die every
year in the U.S. alone after colliding with buildings, nearly half at our homes. But you can help, one window at a time. Add UV reflective film or other external markers: When placed on the outside of windows, these films, screens, dot patterns or cords can be almost unnoticeable to the human eye but are visible to birds. Unlike
As many as 1 billion birds die in the U.S. each year after colliding with buildings, but there are ways you can help.
ISTOCK/MLHARING
Every spring it happens — you're walking outside and notice things are a bit louder than they’ve been the last few months. The relative quiet of winter has ended, and the songs of birds fill the Wisconsin air again. Spring migration is critical for birds to make it safely from their southern wintering grounds back north to their breeding grounds. Native birds need all the help they can get. Their populations in the U.S. and Canada have declined by 30%, or 2.9 billion birds, since 1970, according to a study by researchers from seven renowned organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution. A 2019 National Audubon Society study also revealed two-thirds of North American bird species are at risk of extinction from climate change. Still, we can help improve the chances for 76% of jeopardized spe-
LINDA FRESHWATERS ARNDT
Yellow warbler