Side‑by‑side images of the CATA bus shelter at 501 Vairo Boulevard, showing the large glass panels before installation and after being fitted with bird‑friendly window film. The ‘after’ image displays the visible dot pattern applied to the shelter’s glass, designed to help prevent bird collisions.
July 23, 2026
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service partnered with The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) to install bird-safe window film at bus stop 511, located at 501 Vairo Boulevard. The project is part of an effort to reduce preventable bird collisions and demonstrate simple, low‑cost solutions that residents can use at home.
Each year, it is estimated that nearly one billion birds are killed in the United States after colliding with glass. Most collisions occur in low-rise structures such as homes, offices, and bus shelters. These collisions occur because birds can’t distinguish transparency and reflections in glass from their natural surroundings. Reflected trees, sky, or vegetation create the illusion of habitat, while clear sightlines through glass appear to be safe flight paths.
The newly installed window film features a visible pattern that signals to the bird that a barrier exists, reducing the likelihood of a collision.
The installation was led by Richard A. Novak, Fish & Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who was joined by volunteers from Bird Town Pennsylvania and Bird Safe Penn State, to demonstrate how simple and accessible bird‑friendly window treatments can be. It was completed at no cost to CATA, as the materials were donated by the Service.
“Making glass safer for birds is something that everyone can participate in using methods that are low-cost and effective,” said Novak. “By doing so, we directly protect and save birds at the windows we treat, but we also spread awareness of this issue and inspire others to take similar action for years to come."
A recent study in Stillwater, Oklahoma, compared collision rates at glass‑walled bus shelters treated with bird‑friendly window film to those left untreated and found significantly fewer collisions at the treated shelters. In that study, half of the city’s shelters were fitted with the film, resulting in a 64 percent reduction in total annual bird collisions.
Bird collisions affect a wide range of local species, including hummingbirds, hawks, and wood thrush. Particularly vulnerable are species already on the federal consideration list, such as the golden-winged warbler, which nests in the Scotia Barrens. Protecting common birds now helps keep their populations healthy and reduces the likelihood that they may need federal protection in the future.
“Environmental responsibility is a core part of CATA’s mission, so we happily agreed to partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when they approached us about this project. Doing so on this installation allows us to support local conservation while improving the shelter environment for the riders we serve,” said Todd Horsley, CATA CEO.
While the shelter upgrade is a community‑level solution, everyday residents can make a difference at home. Simple, low‑cost steps using common household items can help make home windows safer for birds.
The community can explore easy, inexpensive ways to protect birds at home by visiting https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/bird-friendly-home-toolkit.
About U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Our purpose is to protect the natural world so current and future generations can live with, live from, and find awe in lands, waters, and wildlife. We envision a future where people and nature thrive in an interconnected way and where every community feels part of and committed to the natural world around us. Learn more at https://www.fws.gov/.
About Bird Town Pennsylvania
Bird Town Pennsylvania works in partnership with local municipalities and like-minded organizations to promote community-based conservation actions to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for birds, wildlife, and people. Learn more at https://birdtownpa.org/.
About CATA
The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides safe, reliable, and accessible public transportation services throughout the Centre Region, connecting people to employment, education, healthcare, and community resources while supporting regional mobility and sustainability.