Presented by the NCTC Conservation Lecture Series

Hearing the thud of a bird hitting your window is an all too familiar occurrence for many of us. These collisions often result in injury or death of the bird, and window strikes are a leading cause of nationwide bird mortality annually. Fortunately, simple actions can be taken by home and business owners to protect birds by reducing the risk of birds striking glass surfaces. In this presentation, Richard Novak of the US Fish & Wildlife Service will discuss the bird window collision issue and how small-scale local actions make a big impact on international bird conservation. Richard will also share information on simple and cost-effective measures you can implement at home to prevent bird strikes and make buildings safer. After his auditorium presentation, Richard will demonstrate how to apply bird friendly film on outdoor windows at NCTC (weather permitting).

Richard Novak is an endangered species biologist in the Pennsylvania Field Office of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. He conducts Endangered Species Act consultations, has key roles in species status assessments, works closely with agency partners in conservation, and shares conservation with the public through outreach. While his studies focused on aquatic animals such as fish and freshwater turtles, Richard has always been fascinated by birds. He feels grateful to have the opportunity through his job to be involved with avian conservation and connect people with the birds around them. He holds a B.S. in wildlife and fisheries science and an M.S. in ecology from The Pennsylvania State University.

For more information on preventing bird collisions, please visit:

Threats to Birds: Collisions | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/low-cost-methods-to-reduce-bird-collisions-with-glass.pdf

This event is free and open to the public at the Byrd Auditorium – National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. 

No tickets or reservations are required. All are welcome!

This lecture will be recorded and available online August 7, 2025, at 2:00 pm ET https://www.youtube.com/@usfws/streams

The NCTC Conservation Lecture Series is co-sponsored by The Friends of the NCTC, http://www.friendsofnctc.org and the Potomac Valley Audubon Society https://www.potomacaudubon.org. For more information, please contact Mark Madison (304-876-7276) mark_madison@fws.gov