When the first two sorry-looking carcasses of Clay-colored Sparrows were found at the Qwest Center Omaha, there was no realization at the time of how dangerous the place was to migratory birds. Two records of death were nothing in the larger scale of ongoing mortality caused by the building. There were more instances of bird strikes during the many months subsequent to 8 May 2008. The place has been visited more than a hundred times to determine how deadly the glass wall of the structure is for migratory birds.
The place is a proverbial "wall of death," causing the demise or injury to a vast array of species, time and time again ... and on and on during this period of investigation into how buildings at Omaha are deadly for migratory birds.
Although there are records only for the past year and a half, without doubt, bird mortality has occurred ever since the building construction was completed and the facility open in September 2003. There are no available records for the five years prior to 2008, but current conditions reflect a situation which has been the same ever since the place was built.
Since day in May in 2008, there has been quite a variety of events associated with the place and it has been an vastly interesting display of how deadly a building can be for migratory birds, and especially how officials responsible responsible for a building's management respond to the bird strike issue.
This is a list of the 201 known instances of bird-strikes, with all but a few having taken place along the west side of the structure, located on the lowlands near the Missouri River, which is a primary breeding zone and migratory corridor for a variety of bird species. Information given in this list is the date when the species was noted as a carcass or disabled bird stunned enough to be occur for a period of time sufficient for observation and notation:
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There are certainly additional occurrences which have not been documented for reasons including:
- 1) Removal of the bird prior to any visit, though these have been made very early in the morning; this situation will have an especially notable difference now that Qwest Center officials are removing any birds in the morning when the security man makes his 6 a.m. patrol.
- 2) Birds which may have struck the glass and fallen upon the roof areas above the entryways; obviously any birds on a roof-top could not be seen from the ground level; on an occasion when inside the building, and taking a look at the roof spots, there were aged carcasses seen. During mid-September 2009, a warbler flew from away from one of these roof-tops sites, as seen from the ground level. This was interpreted as a strike occurrence, though it was not documented.
- 3) Dates when visits were not made for one reason or another, especially when it was rainy, thus hampering an outing because a bicycle has been used as the primary means of transportation.
- 2) Birds which may have struck the glass and fallen upon the roof areas above the entryways; obviously any birds on a roof-top could not be seen from the ground level; on an occasion when inside the building, and taking a look at the roof spots, there were aged carcasses seen. During mid-September 2009, a warbler flew from away from one of these roof-tops sites, as seen from the ground level. This was interpreted as a strike occurrence, though it was not documented.
Strikes have been noted on 107 different days. Those dates with the greatest number of available records are:
- Date — Number Noted
- 09/25/2008 — 12
- 05/26/2008 — 6
- 09/13/2009 — 6
- 09/28/2008 — 6
- 09/15/2009 — 5
- 10/20/2008 — 5
- 09/06/2008 — 5
- 09/27/2008 — 4
- 09/26/2008 — 4
- 05/10/2008 — 4
- 09/12/2009 — 4
- 05/18/2009 — 4
- 10/10/2008 — 4
- And other dates with lesser numbers
This list readily shows how deadly it has been for birds at the Qwest Center Omaha during mid-September 2009, when 15 strikes were recorded on three days.
There have been 46 species documented as having struck the building, with warblers and sparrows among the types of birds noticed most often. This is a list of the species noted, with the number of available records:
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Each species listed, except the European Starling and Rock Pigeon are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, though in the case of bird strikes, the significance of this has not yet been determined.
Each day is an unexpected situation, with different numbers and combinations of species that vividly reveal how migration along the Missouri River valley is a deadly affair, with some birds struck dead in their attempt to navigate the deadly gauntlet of human constructs.
Qwest Center Omaha Officials Work to Avoid Responsibility
It seems somewhat ironic for this number of instances to have been determined on a day when a new realization came about on how dedicated Qwest Center Omaha officials are to quickly dispose of birds to convey a sense that no strikes occur. As noted elsewhere, they have required that security personnel remove any birds as a part of their routine of patrolling the building perimeter, something which has apparently been underway for a couple of weeks, according to comments made by a security guard on the 15th.
Deaths and injuries to migratory birds will however, continue unabated here as based on several perceptions. Qwest Center Omaha officials do not appear to have any intention to address the situation in order to reduce or eliminate bird strikes. The executive director will not respond to any inquiries, and the woman chairman of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, the oversight committee of the facility, has not responded to repeated phone messages.
The situation continues to be an educational example on how bird strikes are dealt with by officials. The situation is deplorable because of the people knowingly ignoring ongoing suffering and misery which the building is causing to so many birds.
Early Morning Strike
The following is a picture that illustrates - albeit poorly as it was very dark (about 5:30 a.m.) and there was a chance to only get one picture before the warbler flew away - the latest bird strike at the Qwest Center Omaha. Thankfully, the bird was able to get away before its fate might worsen.
Disabled warbler at the west side of the Qwest Center Omaha. September 17, 2009. |
Early morning view of the west side of the Qwest Center Omaha. |
A security official was walking around the west side of the building at 5 a.m. Then WOWT showed up for a first news segment, and I visited with the videographer for a short time about the numerous bird strikes which occur, and gave him a way to get some further information. When I took a final look about the west side, another security guy said I should not be riding my bike there as I might run into someone. So I walked.
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