Shillong, Jan 25:The forest department has followed up on the accidental death of over 10 birds after they hit a glass car showroom in Mawlai on January 23.
The birds were long-tailed broadbills (Psarisomus dalhousiae).
According to a forest official, the incident was reported on social media on January 23.
Thereafter, the Assistant Conservator of Forests and the Range Forest Officer visited the place on January 24.
The incident occurred on January 23 after 3:30 pm at the Mahindra showroom in Mawiong.
The Mahindra showroom has transparent glass. A flock of around 15 to 20 long-tailed broadbill birds came from the Umiam lakeside and hit the glass of the showroom.
According to the forest department, there can be three most probable reasons.
The birds see transparent glass as a tunnel/channel to go to the other side of the forest.
Secondly, maybe the birds mistakenly saw the reflections of the outside forest as real forest cover.
Thirdly, to escape the predator.
The most probable reason is reflection of the outside forest in the glass, the official said.
The solution to this is to use letters, designs and others on the glass so that the birds can identify that there is a glass or use some barrier before the glass to reduce the impact of flying birds on the glass, the official said.
“Remedial measures suggested to the owner: The owners should install strong and bright flood lights to focus on the glass panel so that no reflection of the surroundings is cast on the panels, during early evening when the sun is down, which casts so much reflection on the glass panels”, the department said
