For Immediate Release Contact: Greg Borzo (312) 665-7100 gborzo@fieldmuseum.org Field Museum scientists have been checking for dead birds at the base of McCormick Place since 1978. Over the years, they have collected 29,842 birds of 140 species. The most common window casualty was the song sparrow, Metospiza melodia. The Chicago Ornithological Society estimates that 100 million to 1 billion birds die annually by colliding with buildings in the U.S. alone. Canada is ahead of the U.S. in studying and preventing bird-building collisions. Michael Mesure, executive director of the Fatal Light Awareness Program in Toronto, will speak at The Field Museum on the causes and solutions to this problem on May 20. The 7 p.m. lecture is part of COS’ monthly meeting. Mesure will outline his experiences working with building managers, architects, window manufacturers and public officials to reduce night lighting problems and window kill. Day Light conditions Dead Birds Reduction per window night All Windows Same, Either Dark or Light: Lit windows 613 Dark windows 46 88% Windows Mixed, Either Dark or Light: Lit windows 684 Dark windows 146 83% Total: Lit windows 1297 Dark windows 192 83% Most common window casualties at McCormick Place 1978-2001 Song Sparrow 3968 Dark-eyed Junco 3393 Swamp Sparrow 2987 White-throated Sparrow 2257 Hermit Thrush 1322 Fox Sparrow 1165 Oven Bird 1154 American Tree Sparrow 986 Lincoln's Sparrow 915 Tennessee Warbler 871