Birdwatchers Organization Amsterdam       Dangerous situation Carolina MacGillavry Lane          page 2                              > to page 3
              

We presented the measurements taken by the city to one of the leading experts in this field, Prof. dr. D. Klem Jr. at Muhlenburg College, USA. He reported that the measurements were insufficient. Click here for his e-mail of 10 August 2009.

On 16 August 2009 a Woodpigeon hit the glass panel of one of the courtyards of the student dormitories. On the first picture you can see the impression it left on the window, photographed from the inside. On the second picture you can see the dead pigeon. It must have been a terrible blow. On 23 August 2009 a Woodpigeon hit a panel of the courtyard that was “secured” with bird of prey stickers. See the third picture and the picture with the red arrow. On the same day, in the outer courtyard, a Blackbird was found. The pictures speak for themselves. On this spot another bloody incident must have been taken place, see the pigeon feather still sticking to the window. The dead pigeon was never found.

On 24 August 2009 the municipal project bureau Southeastlob sent me a message that they were not striving for the best solution. The side screens and bottom screens will not be supplied with stickers separated by 10 cm (4 inch) from each other. “These parts of the screens will then be fully stickered, which is something we have never seen and don’t want, because the squares have to get day-light, especially in dark periods. Nevertheless we propose to attach more stickers and to monitor how that is going.”

The DUWO foundation sent a message that the window-cleaner firm was asked for a quote for attaching extra stickers. On 30 August 2009 a Greenfinch was found, which hit the screen of the outer courtyard. See pictures left on third row.

On 31 August 2009 I sent a complaint to the assistant of the responsible alderman with cc to one of the city ecologists. No response. The city ecologist answered that he awaits the response from the city hall. On 6 September 2009 I found a dead Marsh Warbler in the middle courtyard. See the pictures right on third row.

On 13 September 2009 it was clearly established that the dots attached at the bottom of the screens on 9 July don’t help. A Woodpigeon died horribly after trying to fly between the dots. See pictures on rows 4 and 5. See also the impression of the body on the glass. Once again I sent an e-mail to the assistant of the alderman with cc to one of the city ecologists. No response whatsoever.

In the night of 1 October 2009, 00.23 PM, we received the following message: “Unfortunately since this evening there is another casualty to mourn about. I saw it flying against the screen (on the front side of my flat)… I went outside fast, because I saw it still fluttering on the ground. However, when I arrived it didn’t move anymore. On the advise of somebody from the animal ambulance I put it in a box, hoping it would only be in shock. Now it is one hour later, but I didn’t see it move anymore, so I fear it really has passed away. I think it is a trush. It did not fly against the bottom part of the screen (were the black dots are attached), but against the middle part. In the dark the black prints of the design (and also the black stickers) apparently are not visible for birds. I don’t mind if they remove the screens tomorrow. I am really sad about it.” See the last two pictures of row 5, a Song Trush.

On 11 October 2009 I found out that the city had attached some extra black dots at the bottom of the screens. The distance between the dots still is much too large. We hold the city responsible for the death of this Woodpigeon. See picture on the last row. The city could have known that the measurements it had taken were insufficient.

On 30 October 2009 I received a message from the DUWO foundation that they had asked their window-cleaner firm to attach 1.224 stickers. This is too late for this Blackbird on the last two pictures.

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