Bird Strikes Continue Unabated at Omaha in September

Bird strikes at Omaha, Nebraska, continued unabated during September with at least 154 known occurrences. This averages more than five for each of the thirty days. Although there were a couple of days with no carcasses found, other days had a large number of birds which struck a building hazard.

There were 28 other species recorded during the month. The greatest number of strikes took place at the Purple Martin roost in Midtown, despite obviously ineffective efforts to address the known problem site at a skywalk.

Species: Number of Strikes Purple Martin: 30 Common Yellowthroat: 27 Nashville Warbler: 22 Lincoln's Sparrow: 11 Mourning Warbler: 7 Wilson's Warbler: 6 Clay-colored Sparrow: 6 Ovenbird: 5 Common Grackle: 4 Brown Thrasher: 3 House Wren: 3 Mourning Dove: 3 Marsh Wren: 3

Eastern Wood-Pewee: 2 Sedge Wren: 2 Baltimore Oriole: 2 Song Sparrow: 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1 Great Crested Flycatcher: 1 Gray Catbird: 1 Northern Waterthrush: 1 Orange-crowned Warbler: 1 Yellow Warbler: 1 Sora: 1 Chimney Swift: 1 Virginia Rail: 1 Brown Creeper: 1 Blue Grosbeak: 1

Date Located - Number 09/03/2008 - 3 09/04/2008 - 9 09/05/2008 - 1 09/06/2008 - 9 09/07/2008 - 5 09/08/2008 - 8 09/09/2008 - 4 09/12/2008 - 7 09/13/2008 - 17 09/14/2008 - 8 09/15/2008 - 2 09/16/2008 - 4 09/21/2008 - 2 09/23/2008 - 2 09/25/2008 - 23 09/26/2008 - 13 09/27/2008 - 8 09/28/2008 - 16 09/29/2008 - 5 09/30/2008 - 8

Although there was quite a variety of species, warblers and sparrows were noted most often. The Sedge Wren, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Brown Creeper were species which had not been previously found.

About mid-month, the extent of bird strikes had a notable spike. There were 17 on this date, with numbers continuing above the norm for the remainder of the month. By the 25th, when an unbelievable tally of 23 occurred, autumn migration was obviously in full swing.

These bird strikes occurred at 26 known buildings. The Qwest Center Omaha continues to be the most deadly place for migratory birds in downtown.

1. Qwest Center Omaha: 39 known bird strikes; additional occurrences would be expected since birds that would strike glass above the doorways, would fall onto the overhang, and would not be found on the sidewalk
2. Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk: 23
3. Union Pacific Center: 15
4. Central Park Plaza: 14
5. Omaha Public Power District headquarters: 8
6. Kiewit-Clarkson South Skywalk: 7
7. Zorinsky Federal Building: 6
8. Omaha World-Herald Freedom Center: 6
9. Holland Center for Performing Arts: 5
10. First National Tower: 5; bird strikes had been expected here because of a glass building exterior and interior landscaping at the atrium on the north side. There were some carcasses and a single stunned bird found. Carcasses were also found on the east side. Nothing had been located in the previous four months. One reason nothing had been found previously is probably also due to the building owners have the exterior sidewalk and local environs cleaned every morning during the business week. Additional strikes may occur, but because of ledges, birds which strike this skyscraper would not fall to the street level, and thus not seen and tallied.

    Map of Bird Strikes for September View a larger version of the map.

11. 1200 Landmark Center: 5
12. Creighton Harper Center: 4
13. Woodmen Tower Skywalk: 2
14. Omaha World-Herald Building: 2
15. J.P. Cooke Company: 2
16. What-Cheer*: 1
17. Urban Outfitters*: 1
18. Union Plaza Apartments: 1
19. Slowdown Lounge*: 1
20. Saddle Creek Nursery: 1
21. Metropolitan Utilities District building: 1
22. Laurie and Charles Photographs: 1
23. Kimball Lofts: 1
24. First National Bank: 1
25. Federal Building: 1
26. American Apparel*: 1

* at the Slowdown Complex in North Downtown

There have been no changes to alter any of the building locations that are a known hazard to the variety of migratory birds which occur in the Missouri River valley at Omaha. Despite the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asking officials at Qwest and the Omaha World-Herald company to address problem areas by the end of September - places which they had been informed of in July - nothing had been put in place by the requested date.

For May through September, there have been 321 known strikes, or more than 60 per month, which averages to two strikes per day. During May, there were 102 known instances. The greatest number have been at the following locales during these five months:

1. Qwest Center Omaha: 91 known bird strikes
2. Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk: 38
3. Central Park Plaza: 26
4. Union Pacific Center: 25
5. 1200 Landmark Center: 21
6. Omaha World-Herald Freedom Center: 20
7. Holland Center for Performing Arts: 15
8. Omaha Public Power District headquarters: 12
9. Omaha World-Herald Building: 9
10. Woodmen Tower Skywalk: 8
11. Zorinsky Federal Building: 8

There have been 56 species noted thus far while this volunteer effort has been conducted. No financial assistance has been provided to support this endeavour.

Officials with the Fish and Wildlife Service - the federal agency responsible for enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - have only been in contact with officials at Qwest and the World-Herald company.