Review on bird-building collisions and the case study of a systematic survey in China

Abstract

Background With urbanization, collision with man-made objects, such as buildings and windows, has become a major threat for birds. Because of the transparency and reflection of the glass, birds may not be able to recognize and avoid the glass, which leads them to collide with the buildings or windows. The outcomes of bird-building collisions are often fatal. This phenomenon is relatively well-researched in North America. In the United States alone, bird-building collision is estimated to cause between 300 million to 1 billion birds to die annually, making it one of the most significant direct anthropogenic causes of bird mortality. Despite being recognized as a major bird conservation issue in North America, bird-building collision has received limited attention in China. Progress In this paper, we reviewed and summarized the factors influencing bird-building collisions, including seasonality, weather, building characteristics, the surrounding environment, and bird ecology. In addition, we introduced the current progress in mitigating bird-building collision and methods of conducting bird-building collision research. Finally, we presented the first systemic bird-building collision study in China. ProspectsBased on the existing studies, we proposed several suggestions for future research. This includes generating an overall assessment of the bird-building collision phenomenon in China, establishing standards for systematic bird collision survey and data collection, studying the mechanism of bird-building collisions, promoting public awareness, and advocating for eco-friendly urban planning and architectural innovation.