Charlie Sobcov, an eight grader from Canada fell in love with birds on a trip to Costa Rica four years ago. He learned about decreasing bird populations due to global warming and another killer: windows. He found out that 500 million birds are killed by impact with windows annually in the US, Canada and Mexico.
He researched bird vision and learned that they can see ultraviolet light, something we can’t. He then developed a decal in the shape of a flying falcon to stop birds from flying into windows. The decal is covered in fluorescent ultraviolet paint that makes it invisible to humans but visible to birds.
He has already tested it with 40 volunteers from around his city. When asked if he would make and sell it as a product, he said that he’ll consider it once he turns in the science fair project due February.
Pretty freakin cool. With kids like him, there is some hope for the future.
Sounds like a decent idea but I don’t think enough people would ever buy these to make a difference.
Funny thing the article didn’t to mention was that in our effort to curb global warming or whatever we have created one of the largest bird killers ever, the windmill farms. They kill millions of birds each year!
Rubbish. Birds aren’t that stupid.
Birds are not stupid, they just can´t see the window until is too late.
Great post. I love hearing about the simple, why-hasn’t-anyone-thought-of-this-before kind of ingenuity that kids often have. More power to this guy. As a fellow Canuck, however, I have to point out that the correct Canadianism would be: grade eighter
Maybe where you are, but in the section of Ontario I live in, they are interchangeable, and actually eight grader is more common
“500 million birds are killed by impact with windows annually”
Curse you Microsoft!!
Well played sir.
Microsoft would be quick to point out that Windows keep millions of people safely stuck inside buildings all day.
Who comes up with these numbers like 500 million killed annually?
My understanding is that it’s a joint effort – Big Bird and The Count hunker down to analyze the data.
They know their stuff.
They have been on the market for a while. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13244
Buzzkill!!!