Cover Open Pipes To Protect Birds
6/5/20262 min
Open, vertical pipes are commonly used to build fences, anchor gates, and post signs. Inquisitive birds often inspect these cavities in their search for food and nest sites. But without enough room to turn around or spread his wings in the smooth pipe, the little bird will be trapped — and eventually die. It’s why conservationists call them death pipes.
Conservation groups like the Tucson Bird Alliance recommend covering any open pipe 1 inch in diameter or wider. You can use store-bought caps or make your own by plugging the hole with cardboard and back-filling the opening with cement mix. Find more information about protecting birds from death pipes here.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAriana Rimmel0:00
[intro music] This is BirdNote. [Western Bluebird calls] Birds are clever creatures. It's part of what makes them so fun to watch. But human infrastructure, like open pipes, can turn a bird's natural curiosity into a death sentence. [Western Bluebird calls] Open vertical pipes are commonly used to build fences, anchor gates, and post signs. Inquisitive birds often inspect these cavities in their search for food and nest sites. For example, this Western Bluebird can comfortably fit through a hole just one and a half inches wide. But without enough room to turn around or spread his wings in the smooth pipe, the little bird will be trapped and eventually die. Open pipes not only kill birds, they also entomb insects, reptiles, and small mammals. It's why conservationists call them death pipes. [Western Bluebird calls] Thankfully, there's an easy way to protect birds from death pipes: cap them. Conservation groups like the Tucson Bird Alliance recommend covering any open pipe one inch in diameter or wider. You can use store-bought caps or make your own by plugging the hole with cardboard and backfilling the opening with cement mix. [Western Bluebird calls] You'll find more resources on how to cover death pipes safely and other actions