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IGMA announces bird deterrent glass research fund

Mar. 13, 2019 –  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that, in 2011, the 46.7 million bird watchers in the United States and Canada generated a total industry output in excess of $107 billion. In spite of this massive interest in birds, up to one billion birds die each year in Canada and the United States when they hit glass windows, walls, and other glass structures. This threat is one of the costliest to bird populations, killing an estimated 10-20% of the birds in North America. But it’s also a relatively easy problem to solve. IGMA and the American Bird Conservancy are raising awareness of this issue. There have been two presentations on the subject at IGMA conferences over the past couple of years.

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has established a tunnel test that safely uses live birds to screen new glass products to determine whether birds can see them. This tunnel is only active during the spring and fall migration cycles as 80+ birds are required for each test for statistical validation of a single product. If the results from the tunnel test are positive, ABC will provide a rating for the tested product.

IGMA is working in cooperation with ABC to receive contributions to expand ABC’s capacity for rating glass and doing research related to rating glass by constructing and operating a second tunnel at a new site. This will be beneficial for glass manufacturers because it will significantly loosen the current bottleneck for testing new bird-friendly glass products, a rapidly-expanding market thanks to ABC’s advocacy work and the numerous bird-friendly building codes being passed in the U.S. and Canada. The new tunnel would be part of ABC’s glass rating program, belong to ABC or an ABC-partner, and would be proofed against the successful Powdermill tunnel. Funders would be entitled to a number of glass tests that would be negotiated directly with ABC. At least 25% of capacity would be devoted to research related to rating samples and deterring collisions and should produce better guidance for new product development.

How to Contribute
The IG Industry is invited to submit contributions via check directly to IGMA. Contributions will be accepted through June 30, 2019. 100% of contributions will go to ABC.

Please note that contributions are not tax deductible as a charitable donation but may be deductible as a business expense.

Please show your support for our bird population by sending your contribution to:

IGMA
Re: ABC Bird Deterrent Glass Research Fund
1769 St. Laurent Blvd., Suite 104
Ottawa, ON. K1G 5X7

For more information
www.igmaonline.org