Striped patterns reduce seabird collisions with illuminated surfaces, study finds
Researchers in Canada discovered that vertically striped sheets caused 2.8 times fewer collisions than plain sheets during experiments on Bon Portage Island.
Researchers in Canada found that using specific colours and patterns on surfaces can help prevent seabirds from crashing into illuminated structures at night, according to a Times of India report.
The study, published in the journal Ornithological Applications, involved experiments conducted during 2024 and 2025 on Bon Portage Island in Nova Scotia to protect Leach’s Storm-Petrels.
The team, including Alina Rutherford, Michael Robertson, Linda Hutchinson and Dave Shutler, tested how different cloth sheets affected bird collisions when illuminated by floodlights.
Results showed that vertically striped sheets recorded 2.8 times fewer bird collisions than plain sheets, while grid patterns recorded 2.4 times fewer individual collisions.
The researchers noted that white sheets saw 2.7 times more individual bird collisions than black sheets, as the white material reflected almost five times as much light.
While the findings suggest darker or patterned walls could reduce risks at coastal facilities, the team noted the method has only been tested inside a breeding colony rather than at industrial sites.