Volunteers Take to the Skies to Combat NYC's Avian Problem
Each morning, Melissa Breyer sets out on her early-morning rounds, scanning the concrete canyons of Manhattan for birds who have taken an unfortunate tumble off a building. As a volunteer with Project Safe Flight, a citywide initiative spearheaded by the NYC Bird Alliance, Breyer has been doing this for five years, ever since she first learned about the staggering toll of bird collisions in New York City.
Every year, millions of migratory birds zip through the city along the Atlantic Flyway, only to face a high risk of fatal collisions with reflective glass surfaces and lights. The numbers are dire: between 90,000 and 230,000 birds meet their demise each year due to these collisions. While the NYC Bird Alliance estimates that about 80% of these fatalities occur at night, researchers are now turning their attention to reducing the impact of artificial lights on these vulnerable creatures.
Founded in 1997, Project Safe Flight has grown from a small group of volunteers into a network of over 200 birders patrolling across all five boroughs. These dedicated individuals collect crucial data on bird collisions, which informs advocacy efforts aimed at changing building codes and regulations.
One key victory came in 2019, when the New York City Council passed Local Law 15, requiring bird-safe materials to be installed on newly constructed or altered buildings. For Dustin Partridge, director of conservation and science at the NYC Bird Alliance, this legislation represents a crucial step towards creating a more bird-friendly city.
However, much work remains to be done. "We still have a long way to go," says Partridge, pointing out that artificial lights and reflective glass continue to pose a significant threat to migratory birds. Specifically, he calls for "lights-out legislation" – requiring non-essential outdoor lighting in unoccupied rooms to switch off during peak migration seasons.
Partridge's optimism is tempered only by the sobering reality of his work: every time he walks into a bird rehabilitation center, he's met with a chilling sight – rows of frozen bodies, each one a victim of the city's unforgiving urban landscape. Yet, despite these challenges, he remains hopeful that, together, we can make a difference.
"It's not out of our reach," Partridge says, his voice laced with conviction. "This is something we can fix. My hope is that one day I don't have to see those freezers full of dead birds anymore – and that future is possible, but it will take work."
Each morning, Melissa Breyer sets out on her early-morning rounds, scanning the concrete canyons of Manhattan for birds who have taken an unfortunate tumble off a building. As a volunteer with Project Safe Flight, a citywide initiative spearheaded by the NYC Bird Alliance, Breyer has been doing this for five years, ever since she first learned about the staggering toll of bird collisions in New York City.
Every year, millions of migratory birds zip through the city along the Atlantic Flyway, only to face a high risk of fatal collisions with reflective glass surfaces and lights. The numbers are dire: between 90,000 and 230,000 birds meet their demise each year due to these collisions. While the NYC Bird Alliance estimates that about 80% of these fatalities occur at night, researchers are now turning their attention to reducing the impact of artificial lights on these vulnerable creatures.
Founded in 1997, Project Safe Flight has grown from a small group of volunteers into a network of over 200 birders patrolling across all five boroughs. These dedicated individuals collect crucial data on bird collisions, which informs advocacy efforts aimed at changing building codes and regulations.
One key victory came in 2019, when the New York City Council passed Local Law 15, requiring bird-safe materials to be installed on newly constructed or altered buildings. For Dustin Partridge, director of conservation and science at the NYC Bird Alliance, this legislation represents a crucial step towards creating a more bird-friendly city.
However, much work remains to be done. "We still have a long way to go," says Partridge, pointing out that artificial lights and reflective glass continue to pose a significant threat to migratory birds. Specifically, he calls for "lights-out legislation" – requiring non-essential outdoor lighting in unoccupied rooms to switch off during peak migration seasons.
Partridge's optimism is tempered only by the sobering reality of his work: every time he walks into a bird rehabilitation center, he's met with a chilling sight – rows of frozen bodies, each one a victim of the city's unforgiving urban landscape. Yet, despite these challenges, he remains hopeful that, together, we can make a difference.
"It's not out of our reach," Partridge says, his voice laced with conviction. "This is something we can fix. My hope is that one day I don't have to see those freezers full of dead birds anymore – and that future is possible, but it will take work."
I'm literally shook by the stats on bird collisions in NYC! 90k-230k birds die every year? That's insane! 
And it makes sense that they get caught up in artificial lights and reflective glass - I mean, who needs to fly into a skyscraper when you can just fly into a light post, right? 
And Dustin Partridge's optimism is infectious... I want to be a part of this movement too! 
, i mean i get it, they're trying to make a difference, but 200 people patrolling the skies every day? it's like they're begging to get hit by a plane or something. and don't even get me started on the data collection aspect, that sounds like so much work for what feels like a losing battle 
It's wild to think about millions of birds colliding with glass surfaces every year. I guess it just goes to show how city life can be tough on wildlife. 
It's not just about the birds, though; it's also about creating a safer environment for everyone. 
The stats on bird fatalities are wild tho - who knew we were killing so many birds every year? 
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they're so adorable! anyway back to this bird thing... what's up with how many lights are there in nyc already? like, can't we just reduce them or something? and have you ever noticed how some buildings have those weird reflective surfaces that just reflect everything back at ya? it's super annoying 
I think lights-out legislation is a genius idea, and it's about time we start taking responsibility for our outdoor lighting 
. We can do better, NYC!
. And that victory in 2019 when they got Local Law 15 passed? Huge win 
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. And if we're worried about crime or whatever, there are other ways to address that without putting birds at risk 
. My hope is too - a world where birds can fly free and wild without us being all like "oops, sorry little guy" 
. I mean, what's the point of having all these bird safety initiatives when humans just keep on building and shining bright? It's like we're trying to help them while also actively killing them off 
. The fact that they're still relying on volunteers like Melissa Breyer to do the dirty work is also pretty disturbing 
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. I think Dustin Partridge's idea of "lights-out legislation" is a great step forward 
. It's time for us to come together and make some real changes, not just empty promises 
i'm so inspired by melissa & dustin! 5 yrs of volunteering is amazing dedication! 
lets keep spreading awareness about bird safety & getting those laws changed 
, like millions of birds fly through NYC every year & it's a huge problem. I mean, 90k to 230k birds die each year from collisions with glass & lights? That's wild. But I think it's cool that these volunteers are helpin out & collectin data to make a change.
Just kidding, kinda. Seriously though, 90k-230k birds killed by NYC every year is wild. Can we please just install some lights that don't blind our feathered friends? Or better yet, let's go full "lights-out" mode during peak migration seasons. It's not rocket science, but I guess it's not exactly a done deal either... yet 
they're doing some serious work out there, scanning buildings for birds who've been hurt by reflective glass & lights. 90k-230k birds die each year due to this stuff! it's wild. i think requiring "lights-out legislation" is a solid idea tho. it makes sense that non-essential outdoor lighting should be switched off during peak migration seasons 