millions every year birds People die all over the world from crashing into glass windowsIt’s a growing problem due to the increasing use of this material in buildings and infrastructure. There may be a clear glass barrier or windows that reflect the sky or surrounding vegetation. deadly traps for birdsWe cannot perceive these obstacles.
In this sense, paddle tennis courts are causing real havoc among birds. It is estimated that more than 24,000 birds die every year in Catalonia alone. protected and endangered speciesAs reported a few weeks ago at the Mediterranean bird fair Delta Birdwatching Festival (DBF), when the glass walls of these facilities are struck,
The paddle tennis courts at the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville (UPO) are located in an area rich in birds, near small lagoons, making their windows traps for numerous species.
SEO/BirdLife volunteers detected dead species at the bottom of these windows. blackbird, warbler, barn swallow, blackbird, warbler, green bunting, kingfisher, hoopoeamong others.
The collaboration between this NGO, CEI-Cambio and the Sustainable Campus Delegation made possible the establishment of a facility in 2022, in coordination with the Vice-Rectorate for Healthy Campus and Sports. network system on the windows of these traces.
This method, devised by the Generalitat Valenciana and the Rowing Federation of that Community, The number of birds killed in collisions has been reduced to zero It does not interfere with sports training on the UPO slopes. Elsewhere they have also been installed on glass surfaces with remarkable success. vinyl strips anyone stickers with silhouettes of birds of prey.
Corrective and preventive measures
The first step to stopping a threat is knowing its magnitude, and that is why the NGO launched the Aves y Cristales campaign, which aims to increase knowledge about such collisions in Spain. size the threat And Raising awareness about this problem in society adoption in general and by those responsible for the infrastructure corrective and preventive measures.
Although there is no official record of birds colliding in Spain, the only study on the subject concluded that it may have been an accident. Serious threat to migratory birds in the Mediterranean. One study recorded 193 birds dying as a result of collisions between 17 different species in a single building in Tarragona from 2012 to 2015.
But not only SEO/BirdLife and other groups such as Ecologistas en Acción or GREFA have started working. The Coordinating Prosecutor of the Environmental Unit, Antonio Vercher, did the same, sending a letter a few days ago to the appointed prosecutors of the network he manages, urging them to take action. Criminal proceedings to be launched over deaths of birds crashing into windows surrounding paddle tennis courtstaking advantage of the reform approved last March, which expanded the criminal code’s presumptions animal abuse to wild vertebrates.
In addition, the Prosecutor explains the appropriateness of the competent administrations to encourage the promotion. measures to prevent or reduce these collisionsand lists the various initiatives available, both private and public, to protect fauna. These initiatives emphasize that: Increasing awareness of this problem.
The prosecutor emphasizes that, according to the latest research: bird death It is most often caused by collisions with glass elements such as the walls of paddle tennis courts or noise protection screens on roads.
excessive artificial light
Vercher’s office reminds us of this The new article of the Penal Code stipulates a prison sentence of 6 to 18 months for those who mistreat a vertebrate wild animal. If they cause death – regardless of whether it is protected or not.
These glasses are “one serious threat to biodiversity”, acknowledges the difficulty of prosecuting such crimes because “remains are often removed by cleaning services, people in charge of facilities or natural predators.”
A study in Cantabria found that at least 75,000 birds die annually because of this reason. One of the first initiatives to reduce the death of birds by hitting windows in this region was launched eight years ago by the University of Cantabria, through its Ecocampus office, in collaboration with SEO/BirdLife.
But paddle tennis courts cause even more harm to bird life. For this reason, The excess of artificial light that most have has a negative impact on birds, especially migratory birds..
Problem Light pollution and its impact was a central theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2022, which called for lights to be dimmed at night.
Light pollution causes the death of millions of birds every year, as reported by the UN. Its effects include changing the natural light and darkness patterns in ecosystems and can change migration patternsforaging behavior and vocal communication.
“I’m impressed by artificial light at night, migratory birds get disoriented and may eventually lead to wandering in circles in illuminated areas, with the risk of exhaustion, predation and fatal collisions with buildings,” condemns the UN.
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