Smithsonian Research Evaluating Bird Hazards

A researcher at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center is currently involved in a project to estimate the "magnitude of mortality caused by different human threats" including collisions with different man-made structures including buildings and communication towers, wind turbines, predation by cats, poisoning, etc.

As part of the investigation by Scott R. Loss, a postdoctoral research fellow, he is "bringing together data for bird collisions with buildings and windows. By looking at data from multiple sites across the US and applying advanced statistical methods, I am hoping to generate more rigorous estimates of the numbers of birds killed each year across the US. Also of central interest is investigating how collision risk varies seasonally, geographically, and by bird species."

Information will be evaluated as available from:

• Toronto (Fatal Light Awareness Program)
  
• Portland, Oregon (Bird Safe Portland - Portland Audubon Society)
  
• Washington, DC (Lights out DC - City Wildlife, Inc.)
  
• Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Lights out Winston-Salem - Forsyth County Audubon Society)
  
• Chicago (downtown buildings [Chicago Bird Collision Monitors] and 30-year data set for McCormick Place [Dave Willard, Field Museum])
  
• Milwaukee (WINGS - Wisconsin Humane Society)
  
• Minneapolis-St. Paul (University of Minnesota and Minnesota Project Birdsafe – Minnesota Audubon Society)
  
• Indianapolis (Lights Out Indy – Amos W. Butler Audubon Society)
  
• New York (Project Safe Flight - New York City Audubon Society)
  

Details for window strike instances in east Omaha, have also been provided for this project.

"We are also summarizing a lot of previously collected data from private residences and office and university campuses, including Dr. Daniel Klem's work, among other researchers," Loss said.

The goal is to "determine whether these threats have substantial effects on bird populations" and to develop "analytical methods to quantify the magnitude of bird mortality associated with direct anthropogenic threats."

"The studies for each mortality source will come out in a staggered fashion, depending on how long the peer review process takes for each," he said. "Studies will be available in the next 1-2 years in the peer-reviewed literature, and we will also produce a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service technical report summarizing the entire project."

The project is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and administered through the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's (National Zoological Park) Postdoctoral Fellowship program.

Stormy Weather Notably Kills Birds

Severe weather on April 14th resulted in several known examples of bird mortality in the area.

On Sunday morning, a dead Franklin's Gull was noted near the middle of South Expressway Street, north of Lake Manawa. A number of these birds were present at the lake, with many others flying about. Possibly this bird was struck from the sky and fell to land on the thoroughfare. It has not yet been compacted by traffic.

There were two reports of fatality in Boone County.

William Flack reported on the NEBirds forum that: "At the intersection with county road 290 Ave in northeastern Boone County, found a flock of 29 Franklin's Gulls in a field beside the road. Most were clearly dead: lying on their backs with their wings sprawled out in odd positions, etc. Only six of the gulls were in positions consistent with living birds; two of those six moved, and were clearly injured.

"I conjecture that the birds were caught in the storm that moved through and killed by hail. A little earlier at Olson Nature Preserve, I'd found hailstones more than an inch in diameter (=larger than a U.S. quarter)" ...

Colleen and Don Noecker, reported at the same forum, they noted "a dead Canada Goose on a muskrat hut. We presume it died from the hail. Also saw an injured Franklin's Gull which was sitting upright but the wing was clearly damaged."

In midtown Omaha, an errant Pied-billed Grebe occurred on Davenport Street at 43rd Street, and ended up being struck by vehicles. The carcass was flattened but still could be readily identified.

The conjecture, according to first observer Justin Rink, is that the bird landed on the street during the heavy rain on Saturday and could then not get airborne, and was then struck dead by a vehicle.

These grebes were common at three area lakes along the river on Sunday.

There was a news report a few days later showing several Pied-billed Grebes being released at Cunningham Lake, which had also been grounded during the weekend storm.

Bird-Mortality Coverup in Wind Turbine Industry

Biologist Jim Wiegand was asked by someone "involved with Nationwide Group trying to get some regulations put in place on this runaway industry. They wanted my input because I am an expert on the subject and a wildlife biologist." Wiegand will be providing further details on particular points addressed in his comments. The following are his comments, given as received via email.

Changes needed to put an end to the bird mortality cover-up from the currently unregulated activities of the wind industry. Below is a list of the nationwide changes needed.

1) First and foremost a new agency should be formed to oversee the wind industry and enforce regulations. This is needed because the Department of Interior, BLM, USFWS, State Wildlife Departments, and every State Energy Commission have demonstrated for 28 years an inability to govern or even acknowledge the true impacts caused by this industry. These agencies are so hopelessly dysfunctional that creation of a new governing body would be the quickest way to remedy the problem. This agency would acknowledge the true limitations of wind energy to fulfill the energy needs of America and also be given authority over State Renewable Energy Portfolios.

2) Researchers should have total unencumbered access at every project. Access by wind personnel or any other party should be reported to and cleared by the research team before entering a study area. This will stop workers from sweeping through the turbines to pick up bodies ahead of researchers. It will also stop other activities such as farmers/lease holders from deliberately tilling or mowing the ground around turbines ahead of researchers.

3) The wind industry with their clear history of fraud and profit bias should have no say or control over any mortality studies. They presently have total control as they have for decades.

4) Hiding bodies from wind projects by wind personnel, lease holders, researchers or for that matter, by anyone, should be a felony. This has been an ongoing practice of the industry since the 1980's and it must be stopped.

5) Mortality studies with adequate search areas should be conducted on 24-48 hour cycles and include first year of project operation. The first year of operation is when the highest number of local species are killed off. Why the needed 24-48 hour cycle, I will explained in detail at a later time later. Undersized mortality search areas are one of the wind industry ploy to minimize keep birds and bat mortality numbers.

6) There should be a moratorium all wind farm development until wind mortality impacts can be properly assessed. At this time the cumulative impacts to birds can never be understood because of the body of flawed mortality studies, flawed data analysis, and decades long wind industry mortality cover-up. Some cumulative impact analysis has been generated by the industry but this has been nothing more than rehashing previously generated bogus mortality data for a desired outcome.

7) Wind farm mortality should not be assessed by MW but instead by rotor sweep area, and by kill/speed/ hours (KSH) which would represent the wind turbine hours in operation while rotating at kill speeds(60-250 mph tip speed). These figures should then be analyzed in conjunction with a habitat placement factor. Rotor sweep, tip speed and turbine placement are the primary wind turbine factors that slaughter our birds.

8) It is time for the scientific community to take an honest look at Altamont Pass to identify the true impacts from the propeller style wind turbine. An accurate raptor survey is badly needed taking into account the numbers of, or lack of, permanent raptors living in the habitat in and around the wind turbines of Altamont Pass. Instead of just counting bodies under the turbines there needs to be a meaningful raptor nest inventory and study that looks at the actual ongoing impacts to the populations living in the Altamont Pass region. I guarantee that with an honest study, the 59 pairs on nesting golden eagles once claimed (a wind industry generated report) to be living within a 19 mile radius of this wind farm, will not be found. I also suspect that any study area of several hundred square miles would clearly show more raptors residing per square mile in similar habitat the further away one gets from Altamont Pass. It is my understanding that no eagles have nested in the 86 square mile region of Altamont pass for over 20 years even though this is prime golden eagle habitat. How much further does this void extend? This is the most critical information needed from Altamont pass or and it has been deliberately avoided.

9) Sensitive impact sensors should be placed in the hub of each turbine. They should be foolproof and encased in a black box so to speak so the can not be tampered with by wind industry personnel. If these were put in place the world would be astounded by the numbers accumulated.

10) Despite objections from the industry, the use of trained dogs and video surveillance would not only save time but also greatly enhance researcher efforts. The use of dogs would also make it more difficult for wind personnel to hide or dispose of bodies.

11) All gag or nondisclosure clauses written into wind industry contracts between lease holders, researchers and all wildlife groups should be eliminated.

12) There is a worldwide environmental crisis developing from the propeller style wind turbine. There have been dire warnings issued to State and Federal energy commissions of the coming population crash of birds and bats across the world from the mortality caused by the installation propeller style wind turbines. Government agencies need to start telling the truth and put into place an aggressive alternative wind turbine design program because there is no way to ever make these turbines safe for birds and bats.

Ongoing Sorrow - Bird Strikes at Omaha Buildings 2011

In 2011, bird-strikes in Omaha started with a bang on April 18th, with a dead Mourning Dove in the morning at the Qwest Center, as usual, on the west side. A few days later, dead warblers were found at the Union Pacific Center. It took nothing but time for other buildings to get their own claim of unnecessary recognition - once again - as birds struck elsewhere, again and again.

Strike instances, as usual, were dramatically notable throughout May. The worst days during the past season - including some of the species killed by hitting a building - were:

Date - Number of Noted Bird-strikes

05/09 - 7: Blue Grosbeak, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Lincoln's Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

05/10 - 7: Clay-colored Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Lincoln's Sparrow, Mourning Warbler

05/30 - 7: Common Yellowthroat, Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Sedge Wren, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo

05/28 - 6

09/05 - 6

09/10 - 6

05/19 - 5

05/24 - 5

09/04 - 5

05/12 - 5

08/27 - 5

09/13 - 4

05/16 - 4

09/22 - 4

The tally continued for weeks and months, with twenty-two buildings represented for the 2011 season as typically documented by forays and methods which shall not be explained.

Building: Number of Known Bird-strikes during 2011

1200 Landmark Center: 7

All Makes Office Equipment Company: 1

Brandeis Building: 1

Central Park Plaza: 7

DJ's Dugout Sports Bar: 2

DLR Group Building: 1

First National Tower: 6

Gottschalk Freedom Center: 6

Holland Performing Arts Center: 9

Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk: 10

Law Building: 4

OBI Creative Building: 1

Omaha Public Power District Energy Plaza: 3

Omaha World-Herald Building: 3

Omaha-Douglas Civic Center: 3

Qwest/Centurylink Center Omaha: 34

Redfield and Company Building: 4

Sorrell Center at UNMC: 1

Union Pacific Center: 9

UNO Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building: 3

Woodmen Tower Skywalk: 1

Zorinsky Federal Building: 9

The Qwest/Centurylink Center continues to be the most hazardous place in the city for migratory birds. Facility officials have placed some decals on upper portions of windows on the west side, but none were placed on the lower portion of the facade ... where a visual barrier is most essential.

Many of the species recorded here are sparrows and other sorts associated with the ground of lower extent of vegetation. They are attracted to the short tree and ground cover landscaping a few yards west of the glass exterior, and then hit the building while attempting to continue their journey.

Second on the list is the Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk, but most of these instances are observations of stunned Purple Martins hitting the structure. When officials where informed of the situation, they made additional efforts to place material in the windows to create a visual barrier. There were few actual fatalities.

Several of worst offenders continue to ignore the deaths their building cause, as they have done nothing to address a situation of which they are well aware. They have been informed through phone calls and emails. For this reason, owners of the following buildings receive recognition for being a "Death Zone Building" for the 2011 season:

• 1200 Landmark Center; building managers have gone out of their way to avoid any responsibility, including not providing contact information
• Central Park Plaza; indifference is their mode of operation
• Holland Performing Arts Center; they got money to build the place, yet have no funds to make it bird-safe
• First National Tower, the headquarters of the First National Bank. This business also gets the "double-talk" award for their lots of talk, yet doing nothing to reflect "empty words" spoken by a corporate "mouth"; and
• Zorinsky Federal Building; a federal building where hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent to change the exterior, yet no effort was made to address the hazards known to cause bird deaths. At least during the season, the federal security knew what was happening when carcasses were being noted and photographed, so there was no harangue at those times.

The newest DZB is the HPER building at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Why an architect would place a vast expanse of glass facing a park might be understood, but it was done by someone ignornant of the environmental setting for birds in the area. University officials also deserve a hefty dose of blame, as they were indifferent to the situation, based upon subsequent email and phone conversations, after the first bits of feathers and bones were found beneath the panes of glass on the side side of the building.

How typical!

Colorful and unique birds of many species were struck dead during April-November.

The number of species recorded each year has varied.

Year	Number of Species
2008	64
2009	63
2010	38
2011	40
Overall	87

The biggest influence in the number of species is the number of mornings spent looking. Efforts declined in the past two years, due to out-of-town ventures and something akin to malaise or rationale?

A Hairy Woodpecker found at the Qwest/Centurylink Center in mid-September, was the most recent addition to the overall list of species being struck dead at river city buildings.

The 2011 bird-strike season ended with a five bird carcasses at the newly dubbed Centurylink Center (i.e., Qwest Center). The fatalities were the Lincoln's Sparrow, Eastern Towhee and American Tree Sparrow.

During the years denoted at Omaha, over 1100 bird-strike instances have been personally observed and recorded, with many pictures available to document the carnage. The prognosis: fatalities will continue next year and forever...

Each of the many bird strikes, the unnecessary and individual agony by each bird which became a fatality - in agony until an eventual death - has not been ignored, nor will it be forgotten.

In 2011, bird-strikes in Omaha started with a bang on April 18th, with a dead Mourning Dove in the morning at the Qwest Center, as usual, on the west side. A few days later, dead warblers were found at the Union Pacific Center. It took nothing but time for other buildings to get their own claim of unnecessary recognition - once again - as birds struck elsewhere, again and again.

Strike instances, as usual, were dramatically notable throughout May. The worst days during the past season - including some of the species killed by hitting a building - were:

Date - Number of Noted Bird-strikes

05/09 - 7: Blue Grosbeak, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Lincoln's Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

05/10 - 7: Clay-colored Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Lincoln's Sparrow, Mourning Warbler

05/30 - 7: Common Yellowthroat, Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Sedge Wren, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo

05/28 - 6

09/05 - 6

09/10 - 6

05/19 - 5

05/24 - 5

09/04 - 5

05/12 - 5

08/27 - 5

09/13 - 4

05/16 - 4

09/22 - 4

The tally continued for weeks and months, with twenty-two buildings represented for the 2011 season as typically documented by forays and methods which shall not be explained.

Building: Number of Known Bird-strikes during 2011

1200 Landmark Center: 7

All Makes Office Equipment Company: 1

Brandeis Building: 1

Central Park Plaza: 7

DJ's Dugout Sports Bar: 2

DLR Group Building: 1

First National Tower: 6

Gottschalk Freedom Center: 6

Holland Performing Arts Center: 9

Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk: 10

Law Building: 4

OBI Creative Building: 1

Omaha Public Power District Energy Plaza: 3

Omaha World-Herald Building: 3

Omaha-Douglas Civic Center: 3

Qwest/Centurylink Center Omaha: 34

Redfield and Company Building: 4

Sorrell Center at UNMC: 1

Union Pacific Center: 9

UNO Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building: 3

Woodmen Tower Skywalk: 1

Zorinsky Federal Building: 9

The Qwest/Centurylink Center continues to be the most hazardous place in the city for migratory birds. Facility officials have placed some decals on upper portions of windows on the west side, but none were placed on the lower portion of the facade ... where a visual barrier is most essential.

Many of the species recorded here are sparrows and other sorts associated with the ground of lower extent of vegetation. They are attracted to the short tree and ground cover landscaping a few yards west of the glass exterior, and then hit the building while attempting to continue their journey.

Second on the list is the Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk, but most of these instances are observations of stunned Purple Martins hitting the structure. When officials where informed of the situation, they made additional efforts to place material in the windows to create a visual barrier. There were few actual fatalities.

Several of worst offenders continue to ignore the deaths their building cause, as they have done nothing to address a situation of which they are well aware. They have been informed through phone calls and emails. For this reason, owners of the following buildings receive recognition for being a "Death Zone Building" for the 2011 season:

• 1200 Landmark Center; building managers have gone out of their way to avoid any responsibility, including not providing contact information
• Central Park Plaza; indifference is their mode of operation
• Holland Performing Arts Center; they got money to build the place, yet have no funds to make it bird-safe
• First National Tower, the headquarters of the First National Bank. This business also gets the "double-talk" award for their lots of talk, yet doing nothing to reflect "empty words" spoken by a corporate "mouth"; and
• Zorinsky Federal Building; a federal building where hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent to change the exterior, yet no effort was made to address the hazards known to cause bird deaths. At least during the season, the federal security knew what was happening when carcasses were being noted and photographed, so there was no harangue at those times.

The newest DZB is the HPER building at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Why an architect would place a vast expanse of glass facing a park might be understood, but it was done by someone ignornant of the environmental setting for birds in the area. University officials also deserve a hefty dose of blame, as they were indifferent to the situation, based upon subsequent email and phone conversations, after the first bits of feathers and bones were found beneath the panes of glass on the side side of the building.

How typical!

Colorful and unique birds of many species were struck dead during April-November.

The number of species recorded each year has varied.

Year	Number of Species
2008	64
2009	63
2010	38
2011	40
Overall	87

The biggest influence in the number of species is the number of mornings spent looking. Efforts declined in the past two years, due to out-of-town ventures and something akin to malaise or rationale?

A Hairy Woodpecker found at the Qwest/Centurylink Center in mid-September, was the most recent addition to the overall list of species being struck dead at river city buildings.

The 2011 bird-strike season ended with a five bird carcasses at the newly dubbed Centurylink Center (i.e., Qwest Center). The fatalities were the Lincoln's Sparrow, Eastern Towhee and American Tree Sparrow.

During the years denoted at Omaha, over 1100 bird-strike instances have been personally observed and recorded, with many pictures available to document the carnage. The prognosis: fatalities will continue next year and forever...

Each of the many bird strikes, the unnecessary and individual agony by each bird which became a fatality - in agony until an eventual death - has not been ignored, nor will it be forgotten.

Dead American Tree Sparrow at the Centurylink Center. November 14, 2011.

Addressing Bird Deaths at Communications Towers

The programmatic environmental assessment on the take of migratory birds by communication towers in the Gulf Coast area now being undertaken by the Federal Communications Commission is a court-ordered action, based upon a lawsuit won on appeal by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and others, against the FCC.

The focus is the impact of communication towers on migratory birds. The FCC regulates communication tower frequencies through licensing requirements.

In recent years, ABC, National Audubon Society, the Ornithological Council, and other groups concerned with bird mortality at communication towers, have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine measures to reduce "take" of protected migratory birds, now numbering 1,007 different species. A conservatively estimated 4-5 million birds are killed each year due to collisions with towers in the United States, though the actual extent is not known and could be much higher. Until a cumulative impacts analysis is conducted nationwide, the more "true" level of take cannot be determined.

The unpermitted "take" of a migratory bird, such as by incidental or accidental means including tower collision, is a potential criminal violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as amended. MBTA is a strict liability statute where proof of intent is not required. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act also affords protection to both Bald and Golden Eagles. It, too, is a strict liability statute. Listed birds and other species are also protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Executive Order 13186, issued in January 2001, also requires that federal agencies protect migratory birds, and must develop and implement a memorandum of understanding with the USFWS that will "promote the conservation of migratory bird populations."

Dr. Albert M. Manville, a wildlife biologist in the Branch of Bird Conservation, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been actively working on the bird strikes issue for many years. Pertinent examples of his involvement include:

1. Instrumental in establishing the Communication Tower Working Group in 1999 - which he chairs on behalf of the Service - to gather information pertinent to the subject;
2. Helped develop USFWS communication tower guidelines in 2000;
3. Provided a lengthy evaluation to the FCC of tools, approaches and changes needed to make communication towers more bird-friendly based on FCC proposed rulemaking in 2007;
4. Published several papers on avian-communication tower collision and radiation issues; and
5. Prepared a briefing paper in April 2009, on the need for research into the cumulative impacts of communication towers on migratory birds.

These efforts are intended to reduce the impacts which an increasing number of communication towers have on hundreds of species of migratory birds.

Towers are known dangers, depending upon their height, location, structure (e.g., monopole, lattice, or guyed -- including how many spans of guy wires are present), and the type of lighting used, as defined and required by Federal Aviation Administration's obstruction marking and lighting circular, soon to be updated.

More recently, Manville was involved as the Project Officer in a research study conducted at 24 communication towers in Michigan intended to scientifically evaluate the impact of communication towers on birds migrating through Michigan.

"Rather than litigate, funds were used to conduct a detailed, multi-year study," Manville said. The focus of the study was on tower lighting, height and presence of guy wires, he explained. "By extinguishing the red, steady-burning lighting on tall towers -- the so-called L-810 lights -- but leaving on the red flashing incandescent or red strobe lighting, bird mortality was reduced by up to 72% at some towers.

"This was an astounding finding with significant ramifications for making towers more bird-friendly," stated Manville. "White lighting is not affected since L-810s are not required on white-strobe-lit towers."

The Principal Investigator of this study was Dr. Joelle Gehring, with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Dr. Gehring is currently conducting a follow-up tall tower study in Michigan and New Jersey funded by the U.S. Coast Guard, the preliminary results of which are replicating findings from the earlier Michigan study. Manville also serves as the project officer for this study.

For Manville, there is an obvious fix which can significantly reduce bird mortality: "modify the lighting standard" by phasing out steady burning red lights. This lighting can be replaced by flashing red lights, red strobes, or white strobes.

"Based on the new published bird-friendly standards, especially for lighting, the FCC should implement proposed rulemaking submitted for public comment in 2007," Manville said. The FCC has not yet implemented the memorandum of understanding required by Executive Order 13186, although arguably they are an independent Federal commission rather than a Federal agency. However, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission -- another independent Federal commission -- is about to sign an MOU with the Service under the Executive Order.

"The public needs to better understand the documented impacts of communications towers on migratory birds, published in the U.S. literature since at least 1949, as well as what can be done to significantly reduce bird take," Manville said. "With the new lighting research findings, this should be a priority."

The public can provide comments to the FCC on scoping concerning their Antenna Structure Registry database. Comments are due to the FCC by no later than January 14, 2011.

Nebraska Situation

The Ecological Services Office of the F.W.S. regularly reviews applications for communication and cellular towers. The agency provides recommendations during the planning process for any regulated tower.

During the past couple of months, about 12-15 reviews have been conducted, mostly for cellular towers, according to Martha Tacha, an agency biologist in Nebraska.

"Only three of these towers were not self-supporting or did not address agency recommendations up front," she said.

The USFWS has a set of recommended measures that should be included in tower construction, and the following list is a summary, used for a recent evaluation:

1. Collocate with a nearby tower or other existing structure, if one exists.

2. Construct a tower less than 199 feet above ground level. Try to keep all towers unguyed, monopole or lattice-supported, and unlit. If a taller tower is built that uses guy-wires, install bird deflectors on the wires to reduce the potential for bird collisions. The deflectors should be maintained as long as the tower is present.

3. Where possible under FAA standards, the tower should not be lit. If lights are needed, the agency recommends the use of flashing white or red strobe lights or blinking red incandescent lighting to be used as aircraft warning beacons. Use of steady-burning red lights should be avoided whenever possible.

4. An self-standing tower should not be built within one mile of any wetlands, wet meadows or riverine habitats.

5. The new tower should be designed to accommodate at least two additional users.

6. Security lighting should be down-shielded to keep light within the boundary of the site. Security lights should be motion or heat activated, not left "on" all night.

7. If the tower is constructed, there was a request to allow USFWS and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and/or their contractors to conduct dead-bird searches on a regular or irregular basis. If such studies are conducted by independent contractors or tower consultants, studies should be coordinated with the USFWS Field Office, appropriate permits acquired where necessary, and results should be provided to USFWS and the Commission.

8. Within one month after construction is completed, post-construction photographs and a signed statement that the above conservation measures were implemented, need to be provided to the F.W.S. and F.C.C.

9. The tower and building should be removed once the facility is no longer in use or is abandoned.

The agency has recently added additional requirements that any projects done during the bird breeding survey, should have surveys done to "determine the absence or presence of breeding birds and their nests." Also, what avoidance measures that can be implemented to avoid the take of migratory birds.

Our office "is not aware of any studies of tower kills in Nebraska," Tacha said.

"It is important to have this kind of information."

A Tally of Towers and Towerkills

More than 100,000 communication towers are estimated as occurring within the United States. These structures range in height from 200 to more than 800 feet. There is an estimated annual growth of 7-10 percent.

Each of these towers are registered with the Federal Communications Commission, making it possible to evaluate their occurrence and extent. The best site to view tower type and location is the towerkill.com website, which provides a map for each state in the continental U.S., and a tally of the types of towers present in 1998, 2004 and 2001.

The following summary for four states in the northern Great Plains, readily shows the increase in towers, based upon a comparison of 1998 to 2010, as summarized from the towerkill.com information.

Kansas	1998	2010
200-299 feet	342	535
300-499 feet	599	1002
500-799 feet	60	71
800+ feet	14	40
	1015	1648
Nebraska
200-299 feet	212	330
300-499 feet	344	560
500-799 feet	35	44
800+ feet	31	34
	622	968
South Dakota
200-299 feet	149	209
300-499 feet	142	241
500-799 feet	18	26
800+ feet	19	21
	328	497
North Dakota
200-299 feet	200	260
300-499 feet	179	342
500-799 feet	17	27
800+ feet	19	19
	415	648
Overall
200-299 feet	903	1334
300-499 feet	1264	2145
500-799 feet	130	168
800+ feet	83	114
Total	2380	3761

Increasing numbers are readily apparent for other states and regions.

Examples of Bird Mortality

There are several prominent examples of bird mortality at communication towers. Some examples include:

1948: a large kill at a radio tower near Baltimore, Maryland

1955 and for 29 subsequent years: a minimum of 42,384 records, representing 189 species at a television tower at the Tall Timbers Research Station in northern Florida

1957 and for the subsequent 38 years: nearly 121,560 records for 123 species

1963: more than 12,000 birds retrieved from the base of a tall television tower in Eau Clair, Wisconsin

1972: reports of single night kills exceeding 1000 birds at television towers in Tennessee and Florida

1982 and subsequent years: variable numbers from 4,782 in 1982 to 6 in 1992 at three tall television towers in Buffalo, New York;

1983: 320 casualties, representing 40 species, during September 12-16, at the KCNA-TV Tower in Boone County, Nebraska; the specimens are now in the collection at Wayne State College.

2003-2005: multiple tower study, with 203 birds noted in spring 2005 at 24 towers, and 173 during the autumn at the same towers

2005: On September 7-8 and also on September 13-14, an estimated 400 birds killed each night at the 1,100 foot WMTV tower near Madison, Wisconsin.

2005: more than 500 killed in a three-night period during October at an 1,100 foot height tower near West Monroe, New York.

Further information on additional known tower kills is readily available at numerous online sources.

Based upon the extensive number of known towers of varying heights, and the relative few reports, it is obvious that little information is available on the probable, and wide-spread occurrence of mortality. The recent studies in Michigan are an exception, and further indicate how dangerous towers can be for migratory birds of many sorts. Similar results would result from similar efforts wherever towers occur.

June Bird-strikes at Omaha Show an Increase Compared to 2008

Bird-strikes noted in east Omaha buildings during June 2009 showed an increase in known occurrences in comparison to records available from 2008.

Julian Date	June 2008	June 2009
152 (June 1)	-	6
153	1	1
154	1	-
155	2	1
156	1	-
157	1	2
158	1	3
159	1	1
160	-	1
161	2	-
162	3	-
163	1	-
164	-	3
165	-	3
166	-	1
168	-	1
171	-	3
173	-	4
175	-	2
176	1	-
179	2	6
181 (June 30)	-	2

There were 40 known bird strikes, compared to 17 in 2008.

With an increase in instances, there was also a greater number of building places where the bird-strikes occurred. Though the regular places continued to cause the demise of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, there were a number of additional locales where carcasses were documented. This includes the Brandeis Building downtown, Duchesne Academy in the Cathedral neighborhood, and several places on the campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, notable at the Wittson-Bennett Halls skywalk and the so-close skywalk across 42nd Street between Wittson Hall and the Sorrell Center. The World Building downtown is another new addition to the list of buildings.

The deadliest building this month is the same place as it has been during the duration of this survey of bird strikes. Although there were fewer this year at the Qwest Center Omaha, the eight strikes noted puts this structure once more at the top of the list, with the 1200 Landmark Center, on Farnam Street taking second place.

Omaha Building	June 2008	June 2009
1200 Landmark Center	1	6
American National Bank	-	1
Brandeis Building	-	1
Central Park Plaza	1	4
Duchesne Academy Skywalk	-	1
First National Tower	-	2
Harper Center, Creighton University	-	3
Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk	-	1
Kutak Rock - Omaha Building	1	-
Omaha World-Herald Building	2	1
OPPD Energy Plaza	-	1
Qwest Center Omaha	11	8
Sorrell Center	-	1
Union Pacific Center	-	1
Wittson Hall-Sorrell Center Skywalk	-	1
Wittson-Bennett Halls Skywalk	-	1
Woodmen Park	-	1
Woodmen Tower Skywalk	-	3
World Building	-	1
Zorinsky Federal Building	-	1
Total:	16 *	39
* Plus an additional species of a warbler - that could not be sufficiently identified - on the sidewalk of the All Makes Office Equipment Company

Each instance this month were carcasses, except for two disabled warblers, noted and then photographed where found after a death with birdly agony after having struck the glass of some building that so suddenly caused an unexpected demise.

Increased Number of Species Documented

There were 15 species that impacted Omaha buildings to an extent sufficient to lead to their mortality during June 2009. There were ten species represented among the June 2008 tally.

Dead Dickcissel on the sidewalk at the west entry of the World Building.

Dead Wood Duck drake on the sidewalk at the northeast corner of the Omaha World-Herald Building.

Two species not previously recorded include the Wood Duck - a drake found at the Omaha World-Herald Building near the end of the month, and a Dickcissel on the sidewalk on the west side of the World Building, found on the same day. Perhaps the latter was a carcass dropped by the flighty Peregrine Falcon pair hanging around the Woodmen Tower that have a been giving particular attention to providing something to eat for the growing brood of youngsters of this breeding season.

Bird Species	June 2008	June 2009
Wood Duck	-	1
Rock Pigeon	-	1
Mourning Dove	-	4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	2	2
Common Nighthawk	-	1
Chimney Swift	3	-
Swainson's Thrush	1	-
American Robin	-	1
Gray Catbird	2	-
European Starling	-	1
Cedar Waxwing	1	-
Nashville Warbler	1	-
Mourning Warbler	-	5
Common Yellowthroat	-	1
Wilson's Warbler	1	-
Canada Warbler	-	1
Warbler	1	1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	1	-
Indigo Bunting	4	2
Dickcissel	-	1
Common Grackle	-	17
House Finch	-	1
A shout-out of appreciation to a prominent birder cognizant of Nebraska species that helped to identify a few birds - or relicts thereof - denoted in less-than-adequate pictures.

The most dramatic difference was the number of Common Grackles that met their quick demise. There were 17 noted this month, including a juvenile that died after dusk on the last day of the month, when a slew of birds were ousted from the roost at the Nebraska Medical Center as a helicopter took off from the nearby helipad. It was already dark, and the bird was seen dying.

Although particulars have not been kept, many juveniles also have been seen dead on the Omaha streets, with at least ten seen during the month which had been hit by some vehicle and ended up so squashed on the pavement.

It should also be noted that during this month, records were also kept on species such as the Rock Pigeon and European Starling that were not noted last year since they are not included under measures of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Owner's of each building where a bird death occurs is responsible for each instance of a deadly strike as this is considered taking under a clause of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Yet, this federal law, is apparently selectively enforced by the Fish and Wildlife Service, since the agency officials have in particular ignored every case of a bird-strikes in Omaha. This is a government agency that has done nothing to make a difference to protect wild birds from endless deaths. Also, when there is a carcass, the person handling what had been a feathered bit of wonder, is doing so without authorization, as the F.W.S. has indicated that a permit is required to handle a bird protected by the MBTA. This would seem to mean that if a carcass is picked up for disposal, this is some kinda violation of a federal law, though there is obviously no enforcement of throwing away trash, which sadly includes the carcass of a colorful bird that had been a lively part of the natural environment some place.

There will be more bird-strikes next month and subsequent months beyond, as the overall number of birds which die at Omaha continues its endless increase in the mortality of birds! And the river city is just place where this is happening around the world.

Overall, the number of deaths throughout the U.S. and world-wide is astounding as their are millions or billions or however many that die, with the particulars unknown. In the U.S. this situation is an ink black and ugly smear on officials of the F.W.S. that basically ignore so many situations where this occurs on a regular, known basis.

Effort and attention to the situation could readily provide options to reduce the mortality by addressing deadly conditions.

Mortality of Migratory Birds Continues at UNL Hazards

Recent bird strike. Carcass of a Brown Creeper at the UNL city campus.

A visit the UNL campus to view the measures that were put in place to address bird strikes indicates that bird mortality continues at place where some effort was made to reduce the extent of the hazards.

The first thing found was a dead Brown Creeper at the Cather-Pound-Neihardt walkway. Obviously the markers put on the glass at this site did nothing to help this bird. In looking closer at the south side of the walkway, there were several smears on the glass from bird droppings indicating other strikes. And it seems that one of the markers was also beginning to fall off. There were some feathers at a second place under the walkway. Additional carcasses were expected, but since there are many feral cats on campus, they probably got eaten, or thrown away.

The markers placed on the glass are not enough to adequately address the bird strikes at this building hazard. There are not enough, and they obviously do not sufficiently make the glass opaque to significantly reduce the extent of impacts. Whether they are making any difference is not known.

Glass of the CPN walkway with obvious smears from bird droppings that occur at a bird strike. Click on the image for a better view.

View of the CPN walkway on October 19, 2008.

The same situation applies at the Hamilton Hall walkways. No carcasses here either, and for the same reason. The extent of markers here is also pretty sparse, and do not appear to be sufficient enough to make a significant impact.

Obviously the Fish and Wildlife Service did not followup on this effort to evaluate whether it was a substantive effort that would seriously address the very significant bird strike issue on city campus. This reflects an ongoing "whatever" attitude by this agency on the bird strike problem.

View of the markers placed on the north walkway at Hamilton Hall.

The grade for the effort by UNL is a D since at least some effort was taken, but it was a measly effort and not enough to get a passing grade. There was not enough preparation made to find a solution that would be immediately effective and with lasting impact. The decals were put up later than expected. The most simplistic and cheap option was selected. There has also been no followup evaluation to see what the actual results are. Also the dead creeper is a significant negative on any grade. Facilities needs to try again, and this time try to at least get a passing grade...

The grade for the FWS is a C, since they made some effort to address the problem, but did not provide specific suggestions for measures that would be most effective (providing a copy of suggested guidelines is not enough), there was no followup on what was done, and they have not made any effort to continue to work with UNL to ensure the extent of bird strikes is significantly reduced at the earliest possible time.

The wild birds continue to die from bird strikes at the UNL City Campus.

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.

Downtown Omaha Buildings Deadly for Migratory Birds

An injured Nashville Warbler taken from the hazardous sidewalk at the Edward Zorinsky Federal Building to the tree in a landscaped area on the north edge of downtown.

A survey of bird strikes in downtown Omaha recorded 102 instances during the month of May.

Starting early in the month, a casual survey was made around the tall buildings of downtown Omaha, to evaluate where birds might be found to have hit and structure, causing their death. Once a very significant number of carcasses were noted on May 10, 2008, a survey via bicycle was made daily around the downtown sidewalks in the early morning to document instances of bird carcasses, and occasionally injured birds.

During each survey, the building name and the particular location of the bird species - noting only those classified under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - was recorded, with a picture or two taken of nearly every instance. If a species identification could not be made, the picture was useful to get assistance from other birders in order to determine the particular identification of the species. Each instance entered into a database according to each building, to help with data compilation and analysis.

When an injured bird was found, it was carefully picked up and moved away from the building sidewalk and any pedestrian traffic, and placed in a landscaped area, and in the case of those within the core area of the downtown building district, it was taken to a park area on the north side of downtown.

Downtown Omaha buildings. View from the northeast.

Most of the bird strikes occurred repeatedly at several prominent buildings with extensive glass areas serving as exterior walls. Those with the greater number of known instances were:

• Qwest Center Omaha - 33, with six strike occurrences denoted on May 26th; all but one of the occurrences on the west side, including one bird which struck the glass-enlosed, elevated walkway to the hotel across the street

• 1200 Landmark Center - 14, mostly on the north side

• Holland Performing Arts Center - 9, about two-thirds occur in the courtyard area, which as the trees get larger, will be a greater hazard

• Union Pacific Center - 9, mostly at the northeast corner of the structure

• Omaha World-Herald Freedom Center - 9, nearly all were along the west side, though one occurred in the recessed courtyard at the southwest corner of the building

• Central Park Plaza - 8, on the north, south and east sides of both towers

• Omaha World-Herald Building - 5, in the southeast corner

• American National Bank - 4, on the south side

Reflectivity of the glass wall on the west side of the Qwest Center Omaha.

View of a portion of the west wall at the QWest Center Omaha.

The strikes occur because of the combination of three items, designated as the deadly Ls: 1) the look of the building, each with a prominent glass exterior wall; 2) lights are known to confuse nocturnal migrants, which are most of the species noted; and 3) landscaping where in most instances leafy trees were planted and are growing in relatively close proximity to a reflective wall, so birds landing in the tree and looking to go elsewhere, would fly towards what would appear to be a suitable destination, but would be a false image. The distance away from the tree would be sufficient for a flight speed where the bird would be strike the reflective surface hard enough for the flying bird to become a fatality.

North side of the 1200 Landmark Center building.

View from the north of the Union Pacific Center. The area being cleared is where the Wallstreet Tower of glass, 330 feet high will be constructed.

A map is indicates the places and dates where the bird strikes occurred, and many of the instances include a photograph of the scene where the carcass was found.

Map of Bird Strikes in Downtown Omaha View a Larger Map - This option is recommended in order to best view the text and photographs for the complete list of bird strike records.

There would be additional strikes at some of these buildings during the month, but only those where visible evidence was present were recorded. If a bird fell onto the entry way overhangs at the Qwest, or on the courtyard ledge at the Holland Performing Arts Center, the carcasses would not be visible, and could not be tallied. Other prominent buildings which may have had bird strikes, could not be evaluated for this same reason. There would also likely be additional instances of strike mortality, but restrictions on accessing private property did not allow any evaluation; the Con Agra Campus for example, with its mix of the three deadly Ls. Some carcasses may have also been carried away by cats and/or dogs, or maybe the few other wild animals that occur, such as opposums.

A table illustrates where 35 different species have flown into a building.

Tally of Omaha Buildings Where Birds Strikes Occurred in May

Bird Species	1200 Land. Ctr.	1405 Harn.	17th Harn.	All Makes	Amer. Nat. Bk.	Cent. Park Plaz.	Zorin. Fed. Bldg.	Fir. Nat. Bk.	Fir. Nat. Twr.	Holl. Ctr.	OWH Bldg.	OWH Free. Ctr.	Qwest Ctr.	Slow- down	NE Off. Bldg.	UP Cntr.	Wood. Park
Sora	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	4	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Mourning Dove	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Hairy Woodpecker	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Olive-sided Flycatcher	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Wood-Pewee	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Willow Flycatcher	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Flycatcher	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Least Flycatcher	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Kingbird	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Warbling Vireo	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Red-eyed Vireo	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Swainson's Thrush	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Robin	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Gray Catbird	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Tennessee Warbler	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1	- -	1	- -	- -	5	- -	1	4	- -
Nashville Warbler	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	1	- -
Yellow Warbler	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	1	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Chestnut-sided Warbler	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Yellow-rumped Warbler	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Palm Warbler	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Black-and-white Warbler	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
American Redstart	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Worm-eating Warbler	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Ovenbird	2	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	1	- -	- -	1	- -
Louisiana Waterthrush	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Mourning Warbler	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Common Yellowthroat	3	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	2	7	- -	- -	- -	- -
Chipping Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Clay-colored Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -
Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	1
Lincoln's Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
White-throated Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Blue Grosbeak	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Indigo Bunting	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	4	- -	- -	- -	- -
Common Grackle	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Baltimore Oriole	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	1	- -
Total Number:	14	1	1	1	4	8	2	2	1	9	5	9	33	1	1	9	1

The species with the greatest extent of deadly impacts were the Common Yellowthroat, with 14 instances of known strikes, Tennessee Warbler (13), Ovenbird (7), Indigo Bunting (5), Sora (5), Yellow Warbler (4), Clay-colored Sparrow (4), Eastern Wood-Pewee (3), Nashville Warbler (3), Willow Flycatcher (3), and White-throated Sparrow (3). About half of the total were warblers, with sparrows also well represented.

A number of the birds killed were females struck down during a hazardous trek to the breeding grounds. They will not be able to raise a brood that would have contributed to the population of their species.

The dates when a greater number of strikes were noted were May 29th, with 11 instances, May 10th and 26th, both with ten instances, and May 31st, with 8 instances. Most of the records - 92 - are during the period of May 10-31, giving an average of nearly four strikes per day.

Reflectivity of the west wall of the Omaha World-Herald Freedom Center. The First National Bank Tower and buildings to the north are shown.

Setting of the courtyard area of the Holland Performing Arts Center. Dead birds have been found under the large square area on the right, and to the left. The trees of the Central Park Mall are directly south of this building.

Each of these species are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The demise of a bird caused by a building is considered taking under this Act, and the building owner is liable for the death.

Ten carcasses found on 10 May.

Carcasses from building strikes in downtown Omaha on 31 May.

The Nebraska office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been informed of the results of this survey, and their representative was asked to inform representatives of the building with the largest strikes that each death of a bird is a violation of the MBTA, which may be subject to law enforcement.

Injured female Indigo Bunting, Qwest Center on June 2nd, 2008.

"Migratory birds are federally protected under provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712: Ch. 128 as amended). The MBTA prohibits the intentional and unintentional direct take (e.g., killing, wounding, destruction of active nests) of migratory birds."