‘Absolutely horrendous’: Horror moment birds plummet into Adelaide Apple store after council act

Shock footage has captured the horrifying moment dozens of tiny birds smashed into the windows of an Apple store as rescuers raced to save them.

Shock footage has captured the horrifying moment dozens of tiny birds smashed into the windows of an Adelaide Apple store, killing some and leaving others seriously injured.

The video shows a flock of native tree martins flying out of a tree out the front the Apple store in Rundle Mall after they were spooked by what was believed to be a falcon on Wednesday night.

A split-second later, scores of disorientated birds were smashing into the store’s large clear windows, of which the shop’s dimly lit internal lights are visible.

“Oh s***, oh f***ing hell,” a rescuer can be heard yelling as he raced over to the storefront, where several birds were lying on the ground.

A second person can be heard calling the situation a “nightmare”.

It’s estimated 50 birds crashed into the windows.

Shock footage captured the moment the birds flew out of the nearby tree. Picture: Storyful

About 50 then crashed into the Apple store’s large glass windows. Picture: Storyful

It’s not the first time the incident has occurred.

For at least two weeks, birds have been flying into the Apple store and nearby Optus store, leaving hundreds dead.

Wednesday night’s incident was “absolutely horrendous” rescuer Rachel Anderson told Yahoo.

“It was the worst rescue I’ve been to,” she said.

The Apple store told the outlet it had agreed to dim its lights in an effort to reduce the strikes. But it hasn’t appeared to stop them.

Resecures raced over the help the birds. Picture: Storyful

It’s not the first time the incident has occurred. Picture: Storyful

The store is now reportedly planning to install a film on the outside of the window to act as an additional deterrent to the birds.

Ms Anderson has also called on the City of Adelaide council to do their part by removing nets from nearby trees, which have caused the birds to roost near the Rundle Mall rather than their proffered habitat.

“Council needs to take the nets down,” she said.

Rescuers have called on the council to remove nearby nets to stop the strikes Picture: Storyful

The City of Adelaide said it believes changes it has made to lighting across the shopping strip has helped reduce the number of strikes.

“Council has brought together a team of experts to assist in determining the best course of action we can take to further protect the birds during this migration season and into the future,” it told Yahoo in a statement.

“The welfare and safety of the tree martins remains our highest priority and we again thank those wildlife rescue volunteers who are helping us deal with this complex and challenging situation”.

News.com.au has contacted the City of Adelaide council and the Rundle Mall Apple store for comment.

Originally published as ‘Absolutely horrendous’: Horror moment birds plummet into Adelaide Apple store after council act