Another emerging threat to birds: avian mortality estimates from roadside transparent noise barrier collisions in South Korea

Summary Birds in flight are prone to collide with various transparent or reflective structures. While bird–window collision has been recognised as a critical conservation issue, other structures less understood. Noise barriers made of materials considered hazards for birds; however, little is known about the bird mortality they cause. We conducted first nationwide-scale estimates bird-collision caused by noise (TNBs) along roads Republic Korea. The total length existing roadside was estimated at 1,416 km nationwide (as 2018), and it had increasing exponentially. Based on carcass surveys 25 sites, daily observed 0.335 ± 1.132 birds/km average, no difference detected between both sides single barrier road types (i.e. local motorways). Finally, we that approximately 186,000 birds (95% confidence interval: 162,465–204,812 birds) killed annually collisions TNBs. As privately installed were not this study, actual likely be higher than our estimates. Thus, TNBs could become an emerging threat avian conservation, especially developing urbanising regions around world. such formally issues importance, more systematic aided citizen science, status mortality, needed addition management mitigation policies.