We have had a couple of questions from people that have contacted the Wellington Cable Car Company asking what is the Urban Wildlife Trust’s association is with the Cable Car Company.
We were contacted by the Cable Car Company to come up with a solution to their bird strike problem back in May 2020. After careful consideration, the Feather Friendly Markers were the best option for the size of the building.
Unfortunately, COVID Lockdown hit again and with the lack of international tourist that the Cable Car needed they were unable to commit funds to the project. Sadly the problem was not about to go away and the birds were still getting injured or killed. Our second chance was the Nikau Foundation Founding round for 2021 – We missed out due to the funding beginning oversubscribed.
With that, we decided to ask for help from the public to get this project over the line. We have been very humbled by the generosity so far and hope that we can see the end to the bird deaths insight.
Is Urban Wildlife Trust getting paid to do this?
Urban Wildlife Trust is NOT taking any payment from the Wellington Cable Car Company or from funds raised to help complete the project. UWT (Urban Wildlife Trust) is not employed, contracted, commissioned or paid in any way by the Cable Car Company. Urban Wildlife Trust is a not-for-profit organisation.
So, why do all this work if you don't get paid?
Urban Wildlife Trust is a team that is very passionate about our native wildlife and seeing this project through will save a lot of our native bird species which we are advocating for.
Why Feather Friendly Markers and not cheap decals?
First of all, we needed a product that will last! Feather Friendly Markers are rated to last over 15 years and beyond in some of the harshest environments which mean they will carry on protecting the birds for years after this date.
There have been many years of development and major science/testing behind Feather Friendly products. They are fully endorsed/tested by several organisations including FLAP Canada and ABC - American Bird Conservancy and their products are now built into bird-friendly building standards across many of the major cities in the USA and Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, New York, Oakland, California, Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York City.
One of the key things to the product is durability and longevity - doing it right the first time so it lasts an extremely long time. Feather Friendly have had data from various clients with a massive reduction of strikes including a case study they are in the midst of developing for the NREL - National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado stating a 98% reduction. It was installed in 2014...that's a lot of birds saved over all those years. There are four key elements to every bird collision project.
1 - always first surface exterior application, the idea is you are breaking up the surface reflection of the glass.
2 - spacing, 2" x 2" spacing is highly recommended. A few decals on a window does not really do anything.
3 - Contrast - it needs to be seen! interior glass offices/buildings have vision strips so humans don't walk into the glass, birds need the same visual clue.
4 - height, it is recommended to treat the first 4-5 stories or top of the mature tree canopy whichever is greater.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us any time! info@urbanwildlifetrust.org
<3
