Taiwan's Bird "Window Strike" Cases Soar Due to Glass Facades

The Taoyuan City Wild Bird Society's non-profit wildlife clinic recently announced that it treated over 2,100 wild animals last year, marking an increase of nearly 200 from the 1,901 cases in 2023. This rise highlights the growing demand for wildlife rescue services, with birds remaining the primary focus. The increasing use of large glass facades in buildings has exacerbated the "window strike" crisis, where birds collide with glass, often fatally.

Last year, the clinic treated 1,827 birds, 193 mammals, and 80 reptiles and other animals. Despite efforts to rehabilitate and release them back into the wild, the release rate remained at 36%, indicating severe survival challenges for wildlife. Seasonal variations significantly impact the intake of animals, particularly during the breeding season from May to July and in November due to typhoons.

Notably, 16.62% of the animals were admitted due to nestling falls, while window strikes increased from 3.9% in 2023 to 6.05% last year, becoming a major hidden threat to wildlife. Veterinarian Kuo Yu-De explained that birds often fail to recognize glass barriers due to their speed and the reflective nature of glass, leading to severe injuries or death. Even if rescued, many birds suffer irreversible neurological damage and must be euthanized.

Kuo Yu-De advocated for wildlife-friendly building designs, such as installing hanging ropes or using dot-pattern stickers to reduce transparency illusions, or employing matte or anti-reflective glass to minimize mirror-like reflections. These simple design changes can effectively reduce bird strikes and provide a safer environment for wildlife.

To better illustrate wildlife rescue trends, the Taoyuan City Wild Bird Society has published its first "Wildlife Rescue Map" on its website. The map details the time, location, and cause of each rescue case throughout the year, helping the public understand the impact of human activities on wildlife. Chairman Liu Yi-Ren emphasized that the map is not only a record but also a scientific tool for identifying conflict factors related to regional environments, such as areas with frequent window strikes or dog and cat attacks on wildlife.

This information will aid in developing conservation strategies and raise public awareness about potential threats to wildlife in daily life, ultimately reducing unnecessary harm.