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Focusing on the heavens: PEI scholar examines risks windows pose for avian creatures

Student at the University of Prince Edward Island conducts research on the potential bird threats posed by campus windows.

Observing the skies: A student from P.E.I. investigates the perils of windows for birds
Observing the skies: A student from P.E.I. investigates the perils of windows for birds

Focusing on the heavens: PEI scholar examines risks windows pose for avian creatures

At the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), third-year student Minhye Lee is conducting a summer research project to study potential hotspots for bird collisions with windows on campus and identify solutions to make the environment safer for migratory birds.

Lee, who has worked at wildlife centres prior to coming to the university, has witnessed several bird-window collisions firsthand. She is now walking around the buildings on the UPEI campus, looking for signs of bird collisions such as bird-shaped marks on the windows or injured birds.

The project focuses on the risks that large glass surfaces pose to migratory birds, which are often fatally injured by collisions. Even dark glass or a window into a dark room can look like a tunnel or hole to a bird, potentially leading to collisions.

Birds do not understand that reflections of trees or sky on glass are not real. As a result, they may try to access indoor plants or the sky through glass, not realizing there is a transparent barrier. This can lead to serious injuries and even death for migratory birds.

Across Canada, window collisions kill between 16 and 42 million birds each year, according to the Government of Canada. This initiative is part of a broader effort to raise awareness and make the campus safer for birds.

Lee is reaching out to the community to contribute to the project, asking people to report any bird-window collisions to her Instagram account @birdsafe.upei. She has selected 10 out of 40 campus buildings as potential risks for bird collisions and plans to expand her study to cover the entire campus.

If it is shown to be a problem, Lee plans to advocate for changes to the windows to make them safer for birds. She acknowledges that bird collisions can happen anywhere, but the project is focusing on larger glass areas. Injured birds may have a harder time feeding and become easier prey after a window collision.

For direct and updated information, check the Atlantic Veterinary College’s news brief and UPEI communications/news pages where this initiative has been highlighted. Additionally, local news coverage such as CTV News Atlantic provides reporting with contextual insights about her research and its significance.

These sources offer the most comprehensive and recent information about the project. If you want ongoing updates, subscribing to UPEI’s AVC newsletter or monitoring their official news releases would be helpful.

  1. Minhye Lee's summer research project at UPEI involves the study of potential bird collisions with windows, particularly focusing on large glass surfaces, to identify solutions that ensure a safer environment for migratory birds.
  2. Lee's project is part of a broader initiative to raise awareness about the risks that glass surfaces pose to migratory birds and to make the campus environment safer for these birds.
  3. The project is using social media, such as Lee's Instagram account @birdsafe.upei, to encourage the community to report any bird-window collisions they may witness.
  4. If the study reveals that bird collisions are a significant issue, Lee plans to advocate for changes in window designs to make them safer for birds, as part of a broader effort in health-and-wellness, environmental-science, and science.

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