Anthropogenic Causes of Wild Bird Mortality

Thousands of wild birds are brought to wildlife rehabilitators every year, mostly due to human activity. Collisions into buildings, communicationtowers, power lines, and vehicles, domestic cats, and pesticides are among the top anthropogenic causes of wild bird mortality. This manuscript explores the origin and prevalence of ten sources of mortality and how wildlife rehabilitators can help reduce the impact of these phenomena on wild birds. These additional stressors further compromise the survival of wild birds, yet they are preventable and manageable. As wildlife rehabilitators, conservationists, and educators there are reasonable steps we can take to address these issues.