Field-testing effectiveness of window markers in reducing bird-window collisions.

Bird-window collisions are a major source of human-caused mortality for which there are multiple mitigation and prevention options available. Despite growing availability of products designed to reduce collisions (e.g., glass with etched patterns or markers and films adhered over existing glass), few replicated field tests have been conducted to assess their effectiveness after installation on glass. We conducted a field study to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercially marketed product (Feather Friendly® markers) in reducing bird-window collisions at glass-walled bus shelters in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. This study included a before-after control-impact (BACI) analysis comparing numbers of collisions at 18 bus shelters in both pre-treatment (2016) and post-treatment (2020) periods, and an analysis comparing 18 treated and 18 untreated shelters during 2020. For the BACI analysis, collisions were significantly reduced between 2016 and 2020 at shelters treated with the Feather Friendly® markers even though collisions increased at shelters that remained untreated. For the 2020 analysis, there were significantly fewer collisions at treated than untreated shelters. Relative to a baseline study in 2016, we estimated that treating half of Stillwater's bus shelters resulted in a 64% reduction in total annual bird collisions. Together, these analyses provide a rigorous field test of the effectiveness of this treatment option in reducing bird-window collisions. Our research provides a model for similar studies at both bus shelters and buildings to evaluate and compare products designed to reduce bird-window collisions, and therefore, contribute to reducing this major mortality source affecting bird populations. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11252-022-01304-w.

Year-round monitoring reveals prevalence of fatal bird-window collisions at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Collisions with glass are a serious threat to avian life and are estimated to kill hundreds of millions of birds per year in the United States. We monitored 22 buildings at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) in Blacksburg, Virginia, for collision fatalities from October 2013 through May 2015 and explored possible effects exerted by glass area and surrounding land cover on avian mortality. We documented 240 individuals representing 55 identifiable species that died due to collisions with windows at the VTCRC. The relative risk of fatal collisions at all buildings over the study period were estimated using a Bayesian hierarchical zero-inflated Poisson model adjusting for percentage of tree and lawn cover within 50 m of buildings, as well as for glass area. We found significant relationships between fatalities and surrounding lawn area (relative risk: 0.96, 95% credible interval: 0.93, 0.98) as well as glass area on buildings (RR: 1.30, 95% CI [1.05-1.65]). The model also found a moderately significant relationship between fatal collisions and the percent land cover of ornamental trees surrounding buildings (RR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.00-1.05]). Every building surveyed had at least one recorded collision death. Our findings indicate that birds collide with VTCRC windows during the summer breeding season in addition to spring and fall migration. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) was the most common window collision species and accounted for 10% of deaths. Though research has identified various correlates with fatal bird-window collisions, such studies rarely culminate in mitigation. We hope our study brings attention, and ultimately action, to address this significant threat to birds at the VTCRC and elsewhere.

Magnitude and correlates of bird collisions at glass bus shelters in an urban landscape.

Wildlife residing in urban landscapes face many human-related threats to their survival. For birds, collision with glass on manmade structures has been identified as a major hazard, causing hundreds of millions of avian fatalities in North America every year. Although research has investigated factors associated with bird-glass collision mortality at buildings, no prior studies have focused on bird fatalities at glass-walled bus shelters. Our objectives in this study were to describe the magnitude of bird-bus shelter collisions in the city of Stillwater, Oklahoma and assess potential predictors of collision risk, including characteristics of shelters (glass area) and surrounding land cover (e.g., vegetative features). We surveyed for bird carcasses and indirect collision evidence at 18 bus shelters over a five-month period. Linear regression and model selection results revealed that the amount of glass on shelters and the area of lawn within 50 m of shelters were both positively related to fatal bird collisions; glass area was also positively associated with observations of collision evidence on glass surfaces. After accounting for scavenger removal of carcasses, we estimate that a minimum of 34 birds are killed each year between May and September by collision with the 36 bus shelters in the city of Stillwater. While our study provides an initial look at bird fatalities at bus shelters, additional research is needed to generate a large-scale estimate of collision mortality and to assess species composition of fatalities at a national scale. Designing new bus shelters to include less glass and retrofitting existing shelters to increase visibility of glass to birds will likely reduce fatal bird collisions at bus shelters and thus reduce the cumulative magnitude of anthropogenic impacts to birds in cities.

Jumpstarting auditory learning in children with cochlear implants through music experiences.

Musical experiences are a valuable part of the lives of children with cochlear implants (CIs). In addition to the pleasure, relationships and emotional outlet provided by music, it serves to enhance or 'jumpstart' other auditory and cognitive skills that are critical for development and learning throughout the lifespan. Musicians have been shown to be 'better listeners' than non-musicians with regard to how they perceive and process sound. A heuristic model of music therapy is reviewed, including six modulating factors that may account for the auditory advantages demonstrated by those who participate in music therapy. The integral approach to music therapy is described along with the hybrid approach to pediatric language intervention. These approaches share the characteristics of placing high value on ecologically valid therapy experiences, i.e., engaging in 'real' music and 'real' communication. Music and language intervention techniques used by the authors are presented. It has been documented that children with CIs consistently have lower music perception scores than do their peers with normal hearing (NH). On the one hand, this finding matters a great deal because it provides parameters for setting reasonable expectations and highlights the work still required to improve signal processing with the devices so that they more accurately transmit music to CI listeners. On the other hand, the finding might not matter much if we assume that music, even in its less-than-optimal state, functions for CI children, as for NH children, as a developmental jumpstarter, a language-learning tool, a cognitive enricher, a motivator, and an attention enhancer.

Absolute pitch in a four-year-old boy with autism.

Absolute pitch is the ability to identify the pitch of an isolated tone. We report on a 4-year-old boy with autism and absolute pitch, one of the youngest reported in the literature. Absolute pitch is thought to be attributable to a single gene, transmitted in an autosomal-dominant fashion. The association of absolute pitch with autism raises the speculation that this talent could be linked to a genetically distinct subset of children with autism. Further, the identification of absolute pitch in even young children with autism may lead to a lifelong skill.

Simulation-based learning to teach blood pressure assessment to doctor of pharmacy students.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of simulation-based learning on doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students' ability to perform accurate blood pressure assessments and to measure student satisfaction with this novel teaching method. METHODS: Didactic lectures on blood pressure assessment were combined with practical sessions using a high-fidelity computerized patient simulator. Before and after the simulation sessions, students completed a written objective examination to assess knowledge and completed a survey instrument to determine their attitudes regarding the learning experience. Individual clinical skills were assessed using the patient simulator. RESULTS: Ninety-five students completed the study. Significant improvement was seen in students' knowledge and their ability to accurately determine blood pressure following simulation sessions. Survey responses indicated that students felt confident that simulation-based learning would improve their ability to perform accurate blood pressure assessments. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students showed significant improvement in clinical skills performance and in their knowledge of the pharmacotherapy of hypertension. Students expressed high levels of satisfaction with this type of learning experience.

Pharmacy student response to patient-simulation mannequins to teach performance-based pharmacotherapeutics.

OBJECTIVE: To design and implement a simulated patient-case assessment using a mannequin for critical care pharmacotherapeutic education of doctor of pharmacy students and to evaluate student satisfaction with the simulation. DESIGN: During the second year of the doctor of pharmacy program, all students were required to complete Introduction to Critical Care. This course consisted of didactic education, written patient-case sessions, and an interactive patient simulation session. Information on the patient case was distributed to students after completing the didactic portion of the course. Patient information was programmed into a simulation mannequin, which demonstrated characteristics of a critically ill human. Students were surveyed post-simulation to determine the effectiveness of the learning experience. ASSESSMENT: The majority of students (88%) were extremely satisfied with the experience. The facilitator was considered to be extremely useful in 75% of responses. CONCLUSION: By simulating a patient case, the facilitator was able to control students' learning environment, adapt the simulation to the level of the students' performance, and debrief students immediately. Ultimately, by involving students in actual patient cases early in the pharmacy curriculum, this type of education could produce pharmacists with a high level of expertise and confidence.