Another one bites the dust
As the autumn migration season continues, another bird has flown into the glass windows of The Sun's footbridge over Centre Street. It appears to be the fourth of the season so far.
In addition to the yellow-bellied sapsucker that fell a few days ago, an unidentified gray bird (maybe a catbird?) lies in the gutter of the bridge a few yards from the sapsucker. This morning on the way in I noticed another bird lying in a puddle on an awning not far from the bridge. It has black and white spots, perhaps another sapsucker.
Here (photo) is the latest addition to the count, spotted today on the east ledge of the bridge. If you can identify the species, let me know.
This is an annual phenomenon at The Sun. Easily a dozen or more birds die in collisions with the footbridge windows each fall. Indeed, bird strikes on glass buildings are a major cause of bird mortality in the U.S. Millions die each year.
A number of readers have sent us suggestions for inexpensive ways to make the bridge window glass more visible to the birds. I have forwarded them to management and will let you know what happens.
Comments
how sad -- it's some kind of a warbler probably female but I can't tell -- they're like sandpipers, hard to tell apart
Posted by: Sarah Fisher | October 8, 2009 1:42 PM
I believe this is a Common Yellowthroat due to the yellow area under the tail and the yellow area under the chin. I'm forwarding this to other birders in hopes that they can confirm. Fall warblers are tough.
If it is a Common Yellowthroat, that is one of the most frequently killed species in Baltimore.
Thank you for posting this!
Posted by: Wendy | October 11, 2009 8:36 PM
Thank you for posting this. Few people know about the enormous and tragic loss of birds owing to building collisions. I'm with Wendy - this looks like a female Common Yellowthroat.
Posted by: Lynne Parks | October 13, 2009 9:14 AM