SMASH THE CRASH

ENDING BIRD-WINDOW COLLISIONS IN ROCHESTER

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

COMMUNICATION & ADVOCACY

One of the biggest ways you can help end bird-window collisions is by promoting awareness of this conservation crisis. Talk to your friends, family, peers, professors, and colleagues in person and on social media. [PRINT] our flyer and hang it up in your dorm, office, or other public place (bulletin boards are always a convenient way to share information). Contact representatives in student government or city, state, and federal officials to advocate for bird-safe building codes. The US Fish and Wildlife Service keeps a bird-window collision [TOOLKIT], including template letters to university leaders and building owners.

If you are a renter or an owner and want to install collision deterrents on your windows, check out this [GUIDE] to bird-safe products from the American Bird Conservancy. The research coordinator of FLAP Canada, Brendon Samuels, has made an [INFOGRAPHIC] that depicts which treatments are the most effective and how to apply them. When in doubt, [CONTACT] us for a free consultation.

Basic Links

The following links are for basic sites and links that represent baseline knowledge to prevent collisions

Preventing Bird-Window Collisions: What You Need to Know

PDF page that describes steps and tips on how to make glass more bird-friendly

Bird Collision Reduction Toolkits

US Fish and Wildlife page dedicated to displaying “toolkits”. These toolkits include in depth steps to reduce bird collisions for homes, workplaces, and university campuses.

Preventing Bird Collisions at Home

American Bird conservancy page discussing overview of how to prevent bird collisions at your home

Products & Solutions to Stop Birds Flying Into Windows

American Bird Conservancy page with database listing of products and solutions designed to prevent bird-window collisions

Bird Window Collisions Guide

PDF File to help Ontario residents who notice a window collision. Includes reporting guidelines and solutions to collisions

Homes Safe For Birds

BirdSafe page that provides basic overview of how to keep birds safe from your windows at home

Advanced Links

The following links are more in-depth resources that can be used by organizations to illustrate bird-proofing on windows on a large scale

Bird-Friendly Building with Glass and Light

Provides a comprehensive guide to bird-friendly architectural practices. Includes bird-friendly glass, building materials with images describing each practice

Bird City Toolkit

Report from Toronto Metropolitan University concerning both advocacy around window collisions and current (as of 2018) policies of the City of Toronto regarding windows.

Bird Friendly NYC Buildings

Provides a guidance on current (as of 2020) New York City construction guidelines for reducing window collisions. Known as Local Law 15 of 2020

UBC Bird Friendly Design Guidelines for Buildings

A report from the University of British Columbia concerning a similar initiative to SMASH THE CRASH with the goal of reducing window collisions on campus. Includes both a background on the importance of birds to the UBC campus and strategies to minimize collisions.

UW Bird-Friendly Campus Design Standards

A University of Washington report on recommendations for minimizing bird window collisions. Similar to the above report.

Existing Bird-Friendly Legislation and Ordinances

Webpage from the American Bird Conservancy outlining community legislation regarding bird-friendly construction from across the country. Current as of January 2025

Database of U.S. Bird-Friendly Building Policies

Database of U.S. Bird-Friendly Building Policies — The Yale Bird-Friendly Building Initiative