Bird Window Collision Deaths 3.5 Times Higher than Previous Estimates Each Home Can Save 80 birds, Each Low-Rise 900 Birds Dr. Daniel Klem, Jr. Director. Acopian Center for Ornithology Interview with Dr. Daniel Klem, Jr. `The World’s Leading Bird Window Collision Expert * May 14, 2026 `The World’s Leading Bird Window Collision Expert * MayContinue reading “Save 80 Birds At Home, 900 At Low Rise”
Author Archives: ornithologycenter
Save 80 Birds Each Home 900 Birds Each Lowrise
Commercial Bird Safety Retrofits Very Affordable
Good News: Bird Safety Retrofits Are Very Affordable At Your University or Local Building October 22, 2025 Summary: You can start your advocacy by showing the bird safety retro fits are very inexpensive. Don’t talk about bird safety in one meeting and get back later with the economic costs. Make this economic argument right upContinue reading “Commercial Bird Safety Retrofits Very Affordable”
Is It Hunger or Lights Attracting Birds to Cities? Chicago A Case Study
In this short paper the Chicago metro area is used to test the thesis that birds are “lured by artificial lights” to land in metro and to their detriment. Chicago is on a principal flyway. It concludes that hunger is the best explains why migrant birds land in Chicago
Why Lights Out Fails: Effective Bird Protection Solutions Prevent 95% of Bird Deaths
Dr. Jim Cubie, J.D. Consultant Jimcubie1@gmail.com Consultant to the Acopian Center For Ornithology Muhlenberg College Ninety-five per cent (95%) of deadly window collisions can be prevented if a system like Feather Friendly is installed.– according to a survey conducted at the McCormick Center in Chicago. This is 3 times more birds than can be savedContinue reading “Why Lights Out Fails: Effective Bird Protection Solutions Prevent 95% of Bird Deaths”
Explanation of Effectiveness Estimate in Van Doren Journal Article
30% vs 60% There is confusion about which estimate to use in describing the effectiveness of the prediction system developed in a study of whether managing window lighting at the McCormick Center in Chicago. I use 30%. Citation: Drivers of fatal bird collisions in an urban center Benjamin M. Van Doren ,PNAS 2021 Vol. 118Continue reading “Explanation of Effectiveness Estimate in Van Doren Journal Article”
Estimate Of Approximately 20 Million Birds Saved By Collision Prevention Systems For Years Before Lights Out Campaign Started
The purpose of developing this estimate was to provide a baseline which permits us to understand the increased avian mortality if the promotion of the lights out program reduces the utilization of the collision prevention systems. Since light reduction advocacy only asks a building owner to Hi turn off their lights, they will in almostContinue reading “Estimate Of Approximately 20 Million Birds Saved By Collision Prevention Systems For Years Before Lights Out Campaign Started”
Lights Out: A Fatally Flawed Bird Conservation Program
Using lights out to protect birds from deadly collisions is fatally flawed. If one window is shutered birds will just hit lit windows in other buildings.
“Stopover” Crisis Demands Protecting Bird Migrants at Feeding-Resting Sites, not Against Lights in Cities
The “Stopover crisis,” demands a shift in bird conservation efforts to protecting birds at feeding-resting sites and not against city lights. Addressing cat predation and window collisions in these areas is crucial, as urban light reduction is far less effective. Protecting birds at these sites is scientifically sound and can make a significant impact.
Lights Out– Sounds Simple – But Unworkable.
The article “Who Turns Out the Lights?” by Jim Cubie, J.D. discusses the challenges of implementing the Lights Out program to prevent bird deaths due to building lights. The complexity of ownership, leases, and management, as well as the involvement of multiple agencies, presents significant barriers to the program’s effectiveness. Cubie suggests bird-safe building codes as a more viable alternative to reduce avian deaths.
Comparing the Effectiveness of Lights Out to Permanent Collision Prevention Systems
Experts Warn Native Plant Programs May Cause Ecological Traps
Imagine A Wildlife Refuge That Does Not Protect Its Wildlife Dr. Doug Tallamy, Dr. Daniel Klem and Jim Cubie J.D. Imagine a wildlife refuge that does not protect its wildlife. How could this be possible? It is not only possible, it is likely, unless we take immediate action to prevent it. Unfortunately, many advocates ofContinue reading “Experts Warn Native Plant Programs May Cause Ecological Traps”
How I Came to Understand Bird-Friendly Must Be Bird Safe
In my bird club and my community I have been working very hard to increase native plants in residential landscapes. I pleaded, “only if we get above 70% native vegetation, will add 2 net nestlings per nest of the birds we love to watch and feed. Plant native and keep those nestlings alive.” Forty-five perContinue reading “How I Came to Understand Bird-Friendly Must Be Bird Safe”
Can We Make Native Plants Work For Birds
Bird Friendly Yards Must Start as Bird Safe Yards Will Our Native Plant Efforts Do No Good? By Jim Cubie jimcubie1@gmail.com 8/18/2021 “ This is critical strategic analysis” – leading native plant scientist Dr. Doug Tallamy (An earlier version of this document can also be downloaded at Doug Tallamy’s site) https://homegrownnationalpark.org/guest-posts/window-strikes-and-native-plants-guest-cont ributor “You can’t fillContinue reading “Can We Make Native Plants Work For Birds”
Fable of 10 White Kittens
I have always wanted beautiful long hair white kittens. When my adoption center announced that it had ten, I was there in a New York minute. They were so happy I would adopt 10. “Just a few questions,” they said. “Will you give them a good safe home?” “Of course, I said, but there areContinue reading “Fable of 10 White Kittens”
The Fable of Ten White Kittens
I have always wanted beautiful long hair white kittens. When my adoption center announced that it had ten, I was there in a New York minute. They were so happy I would adopt 10. “Just a few questions,” they said. “Will you give them a good safe home?” “Of course, I said, but there areContinue reading “The Fable of Ten White Kittens”
Turning Off Home Lights Does Not Save Birds
Turning Off Home Lights Saves Birds? NO Scientific Justification Dr. Jim Cubie Ornithology Center at Muhlenberg College The Lights Out campaign urges homeowners to save birds by turning off a few home lights. Background This it is claimed, that turning off home lights will help save the “500 million to 1 billion birds killedContinue reading “Turning Off Home Lights Does Not Save Birds”
Summary of Bird Protection and Native Plant Resources at this Site
The purpose of this site is to (1) protect birds from deadly window collisions and (2) promoting safe years so that native plants can benefit wildlife. The site has had over 4,000 visits. All the information on the site has been reviewed by experts, such as Dr. Daniel Klem and Dr. Martin Rossler. The materialContinue reading “Summary of Bird Protection and Native Plant Resources at this Site”
Cancer, window collsions and cats
The Fallacy of “10 Good Things For Birds” A doctor would never counsel his patients like bird organizations advise homeowners. A two-packs-per-day smoker visits his doctor. The patient asks, “what can I do to extend my life.” His doctor will tell him “if you don’t stop smoking nothing else you do will really matter. TheContinue reading “Cancer, window collsions and cats”
Why Don’t I Hear Bird Window Collisions or See Dead Birds?
Feeders Not Safe at 30 Feet
Erroneous Feeder Placement Advice: 30 Feet Is Actually Less Safe. Dr. Daniel Klem, who performed the basic research related to feeder placement, has explained that placing a feeder beyond 30 feet is not a safe distance. In fact the risk of death increases the further the feeder is from the window? Why? The birds doContinue reading “Feeders Not Safe at 30 Feet”
New National Audubon Native Plant Advice Is A Big Deal
Did you notice the change at the PLANTSFORBIRDS page at National Audubon’s site? It is very important. Here’s the new text. “And, if you’re attracting birds using native plants, you will want to ensure that your space is bird-friendly in every way. Visit our Reducing Collisions page to learn more about protecting birds from collisions with glass.Continue reading “New National Audubon Native Plant Advice Is A Big Deal”
Partners, naturally – leading homebuilder promotes native plants
Doreen Cubie // Garden for Wildlife // JUST ABOUT EVERY MORNING, Khushal Habibi walks along the banks of Walnut Creek, a small stream that runs through Skyestone, a 500-home development in Broomfield, Colorado. “It’s a great place for wildlife watching,” says Habibi, a retired U.S. Department of Defense biologist who is originally from Afghanistan. HeContinue reading “Partners, naturally – leading homebuilder promotes native plants”
Protect the Birds You Love to Feed
Just like bringing a pet home from a shelter, we invite birds to our homes by installing nest boxes or feeders. If you adopt a pet you must show that you will provide it a safe home. Our birds deserve safe homes. Our Windows are a Major Threat to Birds Birds do not see windowsContinue reading “Protect the Birds You Love to Feed”
Native Plants Popular Design
This is a couple of years old — but is still good news: Native Plants Increase property values. “This past April, the American Society of Landscape Architects released its 2018 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey, a members’ annual rating of the expected popularity of design elements. For the sixth year in a row, native plantsContinue reading “Native Plants Popular Design”
Environmental Laws Are Christian Based
Our modern environmental laws are founded on the Christian values of the culture in which our system of laws was developed. Because some environmentalists hold non-Christian world views, some Christians, especially evangelicals, see modern environmental laws as rooted in pagan values. They are not. They are rooted in a system of law developed in a deeply ChristianContinue reading “Environmental Laws Are Christian Based”