Three yellow marked birds committed suicide today

[HeeBGBz]

They flew into the windows at my place of employment. Three in one day and the same brand of bird! I've worked there almost 3 years and never saw a bird hit the window til today.

My boss says its mating season and they see their reflections in the window. Whatever it was, it creeped me out.

My co-worker wondered if it was an omen. I wondered if their radar was screwed up by nature. It made me sad because they were all beautiful.

Edited to say: I found the type. It was Yellow-throated Warblers.

[shireen]

1. so sad!

YTWs are so beautiful, and like all neotropicals, in trouble! I'm sorry to hear that.

They're flying into the window because of the reflection. All they see is the reflection of what's in front of the window, probably sky and trees, and keep flying because they don't see the obstacle. We had a red-shoulded hawk do that at my workplace for several years in a row. A bird rehabber suggested we hang silver streamers so the hawks see it, to warn them of an obstacle ahead. It didn't work! None of the hawks died, but I'd imagine they got pretty bad headaches.

BTW, are you south of the US? It's a bit early for migration.

[HeeBGBz]

2. No, I'm in Missouri, southern part of the state

There was a flock of these birds flying and hanging around my place of business.

[semillama]

3. maybe try the ol' hawk silhoette thing

might help. I don't know how effective they are though.

[HeeBGBz]

4. Ok, they aren't warblers

I finally saw a color pic.

What ever they were, there was a flock yesterday. No sign of them today. I will keep trying to identify. One of my customers thought one was a female cardinal, but I don't think so. There wasn't enough red. These were about 4-5 inches. Light brown in spots, yellow on breast, throat, a little on the wings, I think. A bit of a black streak on the face/cheekline.

[Blue in a Red State]

5. Sounds like Cedar Waxwings

The "female cardinal" description and the "black streak" fits. They are drop dead gorgeous birds if you get to look closely at them. They *do* like reflections of themselves, but not because of any territorial fighting/mating thing. This time of year, they're forming huge flocks. We had a flock very interested in our new car's sunroof while at a friend's house a few years back. They perched curiously on top of the car, as if to join their reflections. Problem is, they're berry eaters and the car was shortly covered in deep purple *ahem*...

Cedar Waxwing



Alyssa, my Balinese princess from the shelter

[HeeBGBz]

6. That's the ones!! Thanks!

Still makes me sad, but at least I feel better about identifying them.

You're good!

[Minimus]

7. National Geographic had a picture in one of there magazines

showing dead birds laid out side by side that were killed during migration from flying into highrise buildings. It was awful.

Here is a link to a similar news story from Chicago:

http://wgntv.trb.com/wgntv-news-102803asktom,0,920668.story?coll=wgntv-home-1

[Minimus]

8. duh! - one of their magazines

it was early and I had bad coffee this morning

[BeFree]

9. Berry eaters

Like the Cedar Waxwings, sometimes get into over-ripe berries that are actually fermenting. They are said to get a buzz going and fly into all kinds of problems on those days.

I once ventured upon holly trees in the middle of a highway throwing off copious amounts of berries. Birds would fly across two lanes of traffic going to and from the food. Needless to say.....

Anyway, it was the first time I ever held a Cedar Waxwing in my hand. Just gorgeous. Oh,yeah, the DOT did cut down those trees.

[HeeBGBz]

10. They were beautiful

They were also flocking around some fruit trees but I didn't think there were left over fruitages. If there were, they would be very fermenty.