Blue Bird. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) invites the community to a free educational talk on preventing bird-window collisions, hosted both in-person and live-streamed 6-7 p.m. Thursday, May 1 from the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium at 2600 Canyon Road.

Annual bird mortality resulting from window collisions in the U.S. is estimated to range from 365 million to as high as 988 million birds (Loss et al. 2014), with some estimates at 500 million birds annually (Klem et al. 2009, Klem et al. 2024).

Birds are often deceived by reflected images of habitat and sky in traditional vertical windows, leading to potentially fatal strikes. Fortunately, there are numerous solutions to mitigate this problem.

The talk will cover strategies for both new and existing infrastructure, including architectural designs like overhangs, shutters, mesh, and angled windows, as well as practical solutions such as bird-friendly glass, window films, and lighting adjustments.

Participants will learn how to make simple changes at home and advocate for bird safety within the community.

The presentation will be led by Jenna Stanek, an Ecologist with the Environmental Protection and Compliance Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Stanek holds an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University and a B.S. in Biology and Ecology from Western Colorado University. Her professional and academic background, coupled with her passion for bird conservation, promises an informative and engaging discussion.

Admission is free, and all are welcome. For more information, visit PEEC’s website at peecnature.org/events. Stay connected on social media for updates on each week’s activities.