Environmental group calls for bird-safe windows in buildings in Nilgiris

Ongil Nature Trust, an environmental organisation, has written to the Nilgiris District Collector and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to enforce the installation of bird-safe windows in high-rise buildings, after a recent study documented collisions involving 35 birds belonging to 22 bird species in the district.

Azad Kamil, founder of Ongil Nature Trust, said that as “human settlements and reflective glass-fronted buildings expand into sensitive regions, unintended consequences,” such as birds colliding with windows and dying, have become common.

“We recently conducted a year-long scientific study…documenting bird-glass collisions in Forestdale and Coonoor. The study recorded 35 collision incidents involving 22 bird species across 15 families. Among these, 16 individuals died and 18 sustained serious injuries,” said Mr. Kamil.

Among the birds affected by the collisions were 18 resident species and four migratory species, including the Kashmir flycatcher (Ficedula subrubra), listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “vulnerable”.

“Our findings support the understanding that architectural features, particularly large, reflective glass surfaces, were major contributors to these fatal interactions,” said Ongil Nature Trust.

Ongil Nature Trust recommended that the district administration and the Forest Department insist on new constructions to be mandated to install bird-safe windows with circular decals, UV-reflective films, patterned glass and removing vegetation away from reflective surfaces to minimise risk to bird species.

It also called for regulatory measures to ensure bird-friendly architectural practices in constructions near forests and eco-sensitive zones and for awareness programmes for people, builders, community members, and educational institutions. It sought the formulation of district-level guidelines in coordination with the Forest Department and other NGOs.

“The Nilgiris is globally recognised for its avian diversity. We have an opportunity and responsibility to protect this heritage from avoidable harm,” said Ongil Nature Trust.