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Final Research Report : Buchanan Birds

University of British Columbia. Sustainability Office; University of British Columbia. Orchard Garden; University of British Columbia. Campus and Community Planning

The human-wildlife conflict of bird-window collisions accounts for an estimated 25 million annual bird deaths in Canada. This research report sets out to find out how this statistic is reflected at the University of British Columbia (UBC), in their Faculty of Arts Buchanan buildings. Evidence of bird-window collisions including feather smears, feather piles and carcasses, were searched for 4 days a week over a period of 64 days. At least 33 bird-window collisions occurred during this time period. Carcass persistence and searcher efficiency trials were conducted to help lower study bias. This paper examines why birds collide with windows, factors that increase collision rates, report results of the study, compares last years’ Buchanan study data of 49 collisions to this year’s data of 33 collisions to discuss varying factors, and find the facades that have the highest collision rates so that mitigation strategies can be applied. The effect of Feather Friendly © on façade 27 was investigated and found to be effective, decreasing bird window collisions by 90-100%. The recommended treatment is Feather Friendly © for façade 13 immediately and then 25 and 10 in the future. The results of this study can be used to lower the mortality rate of birds at the Buchanan buildings and hopefully shine a light on the urgency of UBC retrofitting their buildings to be more bird-friendly in design. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”

Text

UBC Social Ecological Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) Student Report; University of British Columbia. APBI 495

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0421570

Land and Food Systems, Faculty of

Undergraduate

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