Dear PSF friends,

It has been a while since you last heard from me and I apologize for the long silence.

Here’s the latest Project Safe Flight developments as well as last year’s fall numbers.

Thanks to the amazing retrofit at Morgan Mail, the general collision numbers have declined considerably. I believe it is safe to say that NYC Audubon and all the volunteers who have participated in Project Safe Flight have helped NYC become a safer place for migrating birds and that makes me very happy!

 

The total numbers for last fall were 183 collsions, including 149 dead, 34 injured and one bat. For comparison, the fall of 2006 peaked at 781 collisions, 328 from Morgan Mail. Happily, the south façade of Morgan Mail doesn’t kill anymore! There were a few collisions on the sides of the building that were not retrofitted.

 

The following chart shows  the current major collision locations, with Jacob Javits Center leading, followed by the MET. Bellevue Hospital is now a confirmed bird-kill zone, since collisions have occurred there during every migration season for the past 3 seasons.

A total of 40 species were recorded last fall, with the following top five ranking:

 

1. White-throated Sparrow

2. Northern Parula

3. Common yellowthroat

4. Dark-eyed Junco

5. Blackpoll Warbler

 

The following pie chart shows all species found last fall. Among the unusual, we find an unidentified owl that was seen hitting the WFC 2 before taking off in direction of the Marina. Among other PSF related news, Yahoo News! featured a story on Project Safe Flight as part of a n “Assignmant Earth Story”. The piece went online on January 14^th and I wish to thanks a lot to all the people who agreed to talk in front of the camera.

To view the story, please click on the following link:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/2714

 

I hope you are all enjoying this mild winter and that you went out bird watching a little. The Scott’s Oriole in Union Square shouldn’t be missed! Check out NYC Audubon’s adventures for some beautiful trips that bring you close to wintering ducks or Bald Eagles.

Before spring migration comes around, I will be back  in touch with you and try to enroll you for another PSF adventure, when buildings such as the Hall of Science in Queens, and the Metropolitan  Museum of Art will be the focus of our attention for retrofitting measures.

Until then, take good care.

Best regards,

Nicole