Bird Collision with Building Windows in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

Collisions with windows cause millions of bird deaths per year, these events are because birds are unable to recognize glass as a physical barrier. Some studies mention that some families and behaviors make some species more susceptible to collisions. The objectives of the present study were to determine the composition of species that collide against building windows, to know the glass that generates the highest degree of mortality, and to analyze the characteristics of the species such as migratory habits, feeding habits, and conservation status of the affected species. The study was carried out in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Three areas were selected with buildings that presented the highest amount of glassware and were monitored three times a month from January to December 2019. A total of 270 carcasses belonging to 44 species were obtained, of these, Zenaida asiatica (Linnaeus, 1758) was the one with the highest number of accidents, the reflective glass generated a high mortality rate, and each season of the year is different in terms of the composition of birds affected. These structures are generating a decline in species with conservation status ( Passerina ciris Linnaeus, 1758) and endemics of Mexico ( Corvus imparatus Peters, JL 1929 and Periporphyrus celaeno Deppe, W 1830). The findings show a problem for the conservation of species, and for this reason, the buildings should continue to be investigated to know the real on bird