Post mortem analysis of birds that collided with glass panes reveals multiple injuries and fractures

Abstract

Collisions between wild birds and anthropogenic structures, such as window panes, pose a significant threat, resulting in an alarming number of bird deaths annually. Despite being a global concern, scientific research in Latin America remains incipient, highlighting the need for more research into the impacts on birdlife. In this study, we collected and examined 46 carcasses of 23 bird species that collided with glass structures on a university campus in Sorocaba, SP, Brazil, from March 2017 to June 2023, as part of regular local monitoring of bird collisions and windows. The carcasses were analyzed using necropsy procedures and x-rays, to understand the physical damage caused by these accidents. The species with the largest number of samples were Columbina talpacoti (9 individuals) and Turdus leucomelas (5 individuals). The findings revealed fractures in several bones, bruises and cranial hemorrhages as the main injuries of these collisions. This preliminary assessment not only contributes to the limited existing knowledge, but also highlights the urgency of addressing bird-window collisions to mitigate their detrimental effects on birds.