FAQs

If it’s a nestling with no or few feathers, return it to the nest as quickly as possible, if you can. If the nest is not accessible, keep the bird warm and get it to the Wild Bird Care Centre between 8 a.m and 4 p.m., 365 days per year, as soon as possible. If it has most or all of its feathers, read on. If you’re not sure about the bird’s stage of development, visit the Wild Bird Care Centre’s website to find out.

It’s perfectly normal for fledglings — young birds that have most or all of their feathers — to leave the nest before they can really fly, and spend a few days on the ground as they strengthen their wings. If the bird is sitting upright, hopping around or taking short flights, and especially if there are other birds coming to it or staying close by, it’s probably a fledgling still being cared for by its parents, and should be left alone. It’s very important to keep pets and children (and adults!) away during this vulnerable stage. If the bird is in a dangerous place, such on or close to the street, you can move it to a safer place, but no more than 30 feet. Touching it will not make the parents reject it. Please do not take a healthy fledgling away from its habitat and parents. However, if you see any signs of injury or illness —if it has any blood on it or other wounds, is dragging a leg or wing, is unable to sit upright, falls over when walking, etc. — or if there’s a likelihood that it has been in contact with a cat, it likely needs help. If you are unsure, contact Safe Wings Ottawa or the Wild Bird Care Centre.

No. A stunned bird usually has a concussion, may have other injuries, and is very vulnerable to predators. To greatly increase its odds of survival, pick it up as soon as possible, before it tries to fly away, and follow our instructions for rescuing birds. Do not wait to see if the bird will fly away on its own, and do not follow any advice you may hear elsewhere about letting the bird rest and then releasing it. Being able to fly away does not mean the bird is okay.

No. This usually means the bird is injured and unable to respond normally to “danger” (us) because its mobility and/or awareness are compromised. Healthy wild birds (except for fledglings — see above) will fly away when a human approaches. If you can pick up a bird, it probably needs help, so you should get it into a box or paper bag as quickly as possible. To minimize stress to the bird, which may kill it, don’t talk to it or stroke it, but follow our rescue instructions.

Believe it or not, we want your dead bird. Please follow our instructions.

It’s not impossible, but very unlikely. Wash your hands before and after handling a bird.

Even if you are unable to apply a collision-prevention product to the outside of your windows, there are still strategies you can try, such as closing your curtains and moving plants away from windows. There are temporary fixes that can work, such as cords hung on the outside of the window. See more tips at the bottom of this page. You can also try bringing collisions (and their solutions) to the attention of your building manager or landlord — many are simply unaware of this problem and may be willing to take action once they know the scale it.

You may not be aware of how many birds are colliding if you are away during the day, in another room, or otherwise not constantly monitoring your windows. You may also may not find any dead or stunned birds because these are quickly picked off by neighbourhood cats or other animals. Treating potentially hazardous windows as well as clear deck or balcony railings, even if you’ve only seen one or two collisions, could save many more birds than you think.

Many effective products for collision prevention are unobtrusive, or decorative and attractive. Volunteers who use these products at their homes report that they don’t even notice them, much like window screens. And watching birds through the window is much more enjoyable when you know you’ve done what you can to make that window safe.

Many jurisdictions across North America, including the City of Ottawa, have developed guidelines and other measures to address the problem. Safe Wings Ottawa has also been advising the Canadian government on guidelines for making federally-owned properties more bird-friendly. Write to your local MP, MPP and councillor MP to let them know this issue is important to you and to encourage them to support solutions.

Yes, and some do, especially resident urban species. But for many, if not most, the lesson comes too late, and their first encounter with glass is also their last one.

Eating fermented fruit might make birds more likely to collide with glass, but most collisions have nothing to do with drunk birds and everything to do with birds being tricked by reflections or transparent glass. In any case, birds eating fermented fruit is a normal part of nature, while windows are not, so the problem is with the windows, not the fruit or the birds.

According to one study, residences are responsible for 44% of bird collisions, while low-rises (4 to 11 storeys) account for 55%, and high-rises for fewer than 1%. This is because most collisions happen within 5 storeys of the ground, but also because high-rise buildings are less likely to be in natural settings that attract birds, and because there are so many more houses and low-rise buildings than big towers. The bottom line is that all types of building kill birds, but because low-rise residences are so numerous and the collisions they cause really add up, we encourage all homeowners to take action to prevent collisions on their property.

Artificial lights draw migrating birds into populated areas, where they are more likely to collide. See the International Dark Sky Association website for more detailed information about the impacts of light pollution and how to reduce it.

A wide variety of bird species is affected by collisions with glass, from common birds to species at risk. See our species list to find out which species we have found injured or killed by collisions in Ottawa.

Yes. Awareness of this problem is growing, and the number of research projects dedicated to better understanding it and finding effective solutions is also increasing. Many studies have been undertaken, or are in progress, to accurately estimate the number of birds killed by collisions (e.g., Machtans et al. 2013); determine how collision mortality is influenced by building characteristics, landscaping around buildings, and where buildings are situated (e.g., Hager et al. 2017); identify the most effective window materials for preventing collisions (e.g., American Bird Conservancy’s glass tests); and more. Safe Wings Ottawa’s recommendations for preventing window collisions are based on the results of scientific research, and our own data contribute to this body of knowledge.

Populations of many bird species in North America are declining. Bird-window collisions are one of the leading human-related causes of bird deaths, killing tens of millions of birds in Canada every year, and hundreds of millions to over one billion across North America. We know how to prevent these deaths, and doing so is fairly straightforward. Taking action will save lives and help conserve bird populations, so that birds can continue to thrive, benefit people in many ways, and contribute to a healthy ecosystem for a long time to come.

While studies of human-related causes of bird mortality vary in their estimates and conclusions, scientists agree that collisions with buildings are a leading cause bird fatalities, responsible for hundreds of millions to over one billion bird deaths across North America per year. In comparison, wind turbines are thought to kill fewer than a million birds per year. Safe Wings Ottawa’s limited resources and volunteer efforts are dedicated to addressing the problem of bird-window collisions; however, there are initiatives underway in Canada dedicated to monitoring and reducing the number of bird deaths caused by wind turbines.

While the current outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is of great concern, please do not assume that every bird is sick! A distressed or dead bird could be due to other factors including: window collisions, vehicle impacts, cat attacks or even territorial behaviour (robins and cardinals attacking their reflections).

The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and its partners in bird conservation are quickly becoming overwhelmed by reports of HPAI. By watching for specific symptoms and considering the context and species before assuming HPAI, you can help reduce that burden and ensure injured birds receive the care they need.

SYMPTOMS

• Respiratory difficulty, sneezing
• Abnormal movements; unable to stand or fly properly
• Discharge from nostrils, eyes, or mouth
• Emaciation (unusually thin/weak)
• Lethargy (dazed/sluggish)
• Falling over, head tilt, moving in circles, paralysis, seizures

Note: some of these symptoms may be explained by other causes. Example: head trauma from an impact a can cause a head tilt or inability to stand. If a bird is found injured or dead near a building, or on the side of the road, consider whether there’s a more obvious explanation than HPAI.

This Black-capped Chickadee does not have HPAI. How can we tell? It’s alert, not emaciated, has no discharge from the eyes or nostrils. It’s also not a high-risk species, like a water bird, and was found near a window.

HIGH-RISK SPECIES

HPAI is most prevalent in water birds as well as birds that prey on or scavenge other birds. These include: geese, ducks, gulls, wading birds (e.g herons), raptors (e.g. hawks, falcons), and corvids (e.g. crows, jays).

SIGNS IT MAY NOT BE HPAI

• Alertness
• Aggressive behaviour
• Blood and other obvious signs of trauma
• Songbirds found near windows
• Lethargy (dazed/sluggish)

If you observe a bird that does fit the symptoms and risk factors for HPAI, report it by calling 1-800-567-2033 or online at cwhc-rcsf.ca .

If it does not, call Safe Wings Ottawa at 613-216-8999, or the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre at 613-854-2849 so that we can help evaluate the symptoms. Please note that neither facility is able to admit water birds (geese, ducks, gulls, etc.) until further notice.

For more information about HPAI, visit cwhc-rcsf.ca/avian_influenza.php.

Injured birds rescued by Safe Wings volunteers are assessed and treated for their injuries. Those that eventually recover (about 65% of rescues) are released away from hazardous buildings after a period of recovery. Dead birds are collected for scientific and educational purposes. First, we confirm the species identification and document the collision. We also host an annual display of all the previous year’s birds to raise public awareness, then donate the specimens to qualified institutions, such as universities and museums.

Safe Wings is run entirely by volunteers on a very modest budget, and receives no regular funding from the government. We rely on donations to cover the costs of bird rescue and rehab supplies, printed materials and other expenses. We also receive occasional grants to fund special projects.

Thank you for your interest! We would appreciate your support as a volunteer or donor. And please help us raise awareness about bird-window collisions by sharing our collision prevention information with your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.