Naturalists, scientists trying to keep birds from crashing into skyscrapers

Wildlife specialist Sandy Woltman crouches in a flight cage at Willowbrook Wildlife Center clutching a paper bag.

It vibrates as if filled with popping corn. The moment she opens it, a small gray bird whips out, and wastes no time in trying to escape.

Woltman pulls out a net and after a few tries, nabs the rebel who -- not recognizing a good Samaritan when he sees one -- goes on the attack.

"He's biting me -- that's a good sign," she says.

More Coverage Links Rescuing birds from Chicago's urban jungle [06/01/08] Naturalists, scientists trying to keep birds from crashing into skyscrapers [06/02/08]

In the next hour, Woltman will release and rapidly diagnose dozens of birds rescued from Chicago's Loop by volunteers.

The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors group make it their mission to scour the streets of downtown every morning during fall and spring migration seasons.

Their efforts last autumn saved about 1,000 birds traumatized after crashing into windows.

Between 100 million and 1 billion birds a year in North America are estimated to die when they fly smack into glass either lured by lights or confusing it with open sky.

In Chicago, the lucky ones are scooped up by the collision monitors and brought to Willowbrook, a DuPage County Forest Preserve District animal rehab center in Glen Ellyn.

Experts like Woltman and wildlife keeper Rose Augustine look for serious injuries and in about 80 percent of the cases, release the birds into the wild to continue their migration.

Woltman gives a checklist of telltale signs.

"Are they acting how they're supposed to in the wild? Are they biting? Are they aggressive? Are they squinting?"

The feisty bird she's examining is a white-throated sparrow.

"The wings look good, the feet look good," Woltman says, satisfied.

It's a different verdict for a yellow warbler.

"This one stays," Augustine decides after a brief examination. "He's got some blood in the mouth."

A languid oven bird also is kept back for observation.

"There's a little wing droop in him," Woltman remarks, "and see how he's not going up as quickly as he should?"

The lucky ones

Willowbrook is one of a shrinking number of wildlife "hospitals" in the suburbs.

The facility took in 4,033 injured birds in 2007, including 1,455 from the CBCM.

In addition to assessing health, staff members measure each bird's leg and attach a minuscule aluminum band with an identification number.

The banding is part of a widely used system that allows naturalists to track birds and follow their progress.

"You want to band as many birds as you can, because we do have a low band return rate," Woltman says.

Birds that fail the flight cage test are kept for assessment but a high percentage are set free the same day Willowbrook receives them.

"We release them in the woods -- they don't need any more help than just a safe place to rest," Woltman says.

A Virginia rail that a compassionate Gold Coast resident scooped up from the street and turned over to the bird monitors is resting comfortably in a palatial suite that's equipped with grasses, water and all the fish and insects its heart could desire.

"We try to make it more natural to relieve his stress," Woltman said.

The rail is limping badly because of a fractured femur. Willowbrook vets will insert a pin in its leg that should enable the bird to live normally.

Permanently injured birds are treated and kept at Willowbrook or placed at other nature refuges.

Death trap

But for millions of birds flying at speeds of 20 to 30 mph, the impact of the famed architecture of downtown Chicago is catastrophic.

Casualties are turned over to the Field Museum.

Together with the Bird Collision Monitors, Field researchers have influenced Chicago to institute a Lights Out program that encourages downtown building owners to dim nonessential lights on skyscrapers after 11 p.m. during the spring and fall migration seasons.

"Turning lights off doesn't get rid of the killing but it does reduce it," Field ornithologist and conservation ecologist Doug Stotz said.

Museum experts are creating a database of fatalities and locations in hopes of circumventing the fatal trend.

"We still have a lot to learn," said ornithologist David Willard, Field Museum bird collections manager.

If scientists can pinpoint which high-rises have the most casualties, that information can be used to convince property owners -- who have been cooperative -- to make modifications.

For example, lobbies with plants and reflective glass are fatal attractions for birds. Removing vegetation from windows can cut down deaths.

Since the 1970s, Willard has been gathering dead birds from McCormick Place for study.

"I've seen enough dead birds over the years that I'm a little bit callused," he said. "But there still is something sad about seeing a bird that may have flown all the way to Peru ending up on a sidewalk in Chicago."

The more reflective the glass, the deadlier it is so building design in new structures could be critical in savings birds.

When renovations created a wall of glass at Soldier Field in 2003, ornithologists feared the worst. The glass turned out to be relatively benign for birds, possibly because it was slanted.

It is doubtful glass-bird casualties will ever be reduced to zero. But with science and public opinion focusing on the problem, "there is a reason for optimism," Willard said. "Every casualty that is reduced is a bird that may go and breed.

You can help

bull; The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors are looking for helpers. To volunteer or if you find an injured bird, call (773)988-1867.

bull; Other useful numbers if you have questions about injured wildlife are the Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630)942-6200 or Fox Valley Wildlife Center (630) 365-3800.

bull; Informative Web sites include the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors at www.birdmonitors.net and the Fatal Light Awareness Program site at www.flap.org. Both include tips on how to make your home more bird-friendly.

bull; To donate to the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, checks can be sent payable to the Chicago Audubon Society, 5801-C N. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60646-6057, with a notation the money is for CBCM. The organization also accepts supplies such as paper bags, labels and binder clips. For information, call (773) 539-6793.