Young Charlie Sobcov, an eighth-grader from Ottawa, loves birds. He learned that up to 500 million birds in North America die each year from flying into windows and wanted to find a way to prevent those deadly collisions. As he educated himself about birds, he learned that they see ultraviolet light a lot better than humans.
By painting a clear plastic with ultraviolet--or blacklight-reactive--paint, he was able to make decals that when placed on windows are easy for birds to see, but nearly invisible to humans. Sobcov has had good results and is further testing his invention for entry in an upcoming science fair.
Photos in the gallery show the shapes glowing blue under a blacklight.
Avian Safety Innovations
Anti-Collision Devices for Birds Prevent In-Flight Fatalities
Trend Themes
1. Anti-collision Decals - Using ultraviolet paint on clear plastic to create bird-safe decals for windows.
2. Bird-friendly Design - Incorporating bird visibility and safety measures into architectural designs.
3. Avian Conservation Technology - Developing innovative devices and solutions to reduce bird fatalities.
Industry Implications
1. Building Materials - Opportunity for manufacturers to provide bird-friendly glass and transparent materials for windows.
2. Construction and Architecture - Demand for architects and designers to integrate bird-safe features into building projects.
3. Environmental Conservation - Potential for organizations and technology companies to collaborate on avian safety initiatives.