Kingston Bird Club
WACK
Window Avian Collisions Kingston is a Kingston Bird Club program that monitors and tracks bird-window collisions across the city.
1 billion+
birds are killed by window collisions in North America every year.
What we do
Birds don’t see glass as well as we do! They often see the sky and trees reflected in it, or the view straight through it, and thus fly into it. A bird found dead or stunned near a building with glass windows has most likely hit the glass, which is what we call a collision victim.
In Fall 2026, our first-ever monitoring season, WACK walked a set route through Queen’s campus six days a week. We recorded evidence of migratory bird window collisions and rescued surviving birds, sending them to Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre.
Fall 2026 so far
Show photos from our rounds (some show birds that have died)
Photos coming soon!
If you find a bird
Found a dead bird? Please report it!
Dead-bird reports are some of the most important records we get. They show us which buildings are hotspots and how many birds are hitting windows across Kingston. Note where you found it and which side of the building it was on, and take photos from multiple angles if you can: they help us identify the bird!
Report a window strikeFound a stunned bird?
- Gently cover it with a cloth and place it in a paper bag or a box with small air holes.
- Keep it somewhere dark, quiet and warm, away from pets and children.
- Don’t give it food or water, and try not to check on it often.
- Contact Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre for next steps.
- Report it to WACK too, with where and when you found it.
Making windows safer
Markings on the outside of the window, spaced no more than 5 cm apart, break up the reflection so birds see a barrier.
- Dot decals, tape or paint markers in a grid
- Exterior screens or netting
- Keeping feeders within 1 m of a window, or more than 10 m away
FLAP Canada has guides for homes and buildings!
