Downtown Boise keeps getting taller but what’s the bird’s-eye view?
For birds, the rapid increase in high-rise buildings may pose a threat.
The Idaho Statesman reports nearly one billion birds die nationally every year from collisions with glass windows, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and it’s an especially potent threat in cities with tall glass buildings.
According to experts, there is little current local data on the rate of these collisions — and deaths — in the Boise area.
But all indicators point to a problem, said Heidi Ware Carlisle, the education director at Boise State’s Intermountain Bird Observatory.
These include an increase in glass buildings, many of which keep their lights on all night.
When birds encounter glass, they may think they can fly straight through it to something on the other side or they may see the reflection of trees or foliage nearby.
Significant nighttime light in cities attracts migrating birds toward those buildings.
To learn more, watch the American Bird Conservancy’s “Stop the Thunk” video.
