How many birds die due to building collisions?
A. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has estimated at least 100 million birds die annually in the U.S. due to building collisions. It is not known how many bird deaths are recorded annually in Indianapolis. However, observations from many individuals clearly indicate that thousands of birds die from building collisions in downtown Indianapolis. As part of this initiative, research is underway to help quantify the number of bird deaths and species involved. During limited searches in 2009, approximately 500 migratory birds were found dead or injured in downtown Indianapolis. This is just a fraction of the overall total as most birds are swept up by maintenance or are able to fly to landscaping where they subsequently die.
