AVC student on a mission to make UPEI a safer place for birds

Minhye Lee, a third-year student at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), is taking action to help protect birds on campus through a new initiative focused on evaluating bird-window collisions.

“Each year, an estimated 25 million birds die in Canada after flying into windows,” said Lee. “Birds often mistake reflections of the sky or trees in glass for open space, leading to fatal impacts. With PEI located along the Atlantic Flyway—a major migratory route—campus buildings, especially those with large glass surfaces near trees and water, pose a potential risk.”

Lee’s research project aims to identify collision hotspots at UPEI and work toward solutions that make the campus safer for birds. The community can help by reporting collisions as well. If members of the campus community see a bird that has struck a window, they are asked to take a photo and send it—along with the location details—to @birdsafe.upei on Instagram. Lee will use these reports to evaluate problem areas and explore potential preventative measures.

While the project is launching on campus, Lee hopes to expand it to other areas on the Island where bird-window collisions are common. She hopes her research will contribute to future conservation efforts that could save countless birds, particularly during peak migration seasons.

Follow @birdsafe.upei on Instagram to learn more and get involved.