Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

A Bird-Friendly Mural Celebrating Local Birdlife

Bird-window collisions had already been documented at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre when the idea for a new mural at the Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries took shape.

Bamfield, British Columbia

Combining Art and Collision Prevention

Designed by artist and conservation biologist Vanessa Hum, the mural features bird species that have been recorded after window strikes on the BMSC campus. The result is both a collision-prevention measure and a visual reminder of the diversity of birdlife in the area.

The mural helps make the glass more visible to birds while featuring species connected directly to the site. Instead of choosing birds simply for their appearance, Vanessa Hum based the design on species that had been documented in collisions. This is why the mural draws attention to a problem that can easily go unnoticed and shows how sustainable design can help make buildings safer for birds.

Part of a Broader Effort at BMSC

The mural builds on earlier work at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre to address bird-window collisions. Through a previous fundraising initiative, Feather Friendly visual markers were installed on windows across much of the campus, and BMSC later reported fewer collisions.

The Rix Centre mural was funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), which supported the design, materials and educational signage explaining bird-window collisions and ways to prevent them.

The project was also made possible through the work of Krista De Groot, whose involvement helped bring the mural to life.

A COMMITMENT TO BIODIVERSITY

"Protecting the ecosystems we study, from the ocean floor to the sky above."

Photo Gallery

Photos courtesy of Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre