Collisions with buildings kill an estimated 600 million birds in the U.S. every year, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The top three most dangerous cities for bird collisions—Chicago, Houston, and Dallas—are located within the heart of North America’s most trafficked aerial corridors, according a new Cornell study.
That fact, along with their considerable size, makes these cities dangerous to migrating birds in the spring and fall.
Seventy percent of bird species in the U.S. are migratory, and more than 80% of those migrate at night. Urban light pollution attracts avian travelers, leading them to crash into buildings.
Strategies to prevent these usually fatal collisions include constructing bird-friendly buildings with patterned glass or dimmer lights. Lawmakers in New York and Chicago are considering legislation to improve bird safety into new building rules.
Related Stories
| Sep 1, 2011
Project Aims to Automate Code Compliance Assessment
FIATECH, a consortium of owners from the industrial, power, and retail markets that build large structures, launched a project this year to validate the use of automation technology for code compliance assessment, and to accelerate the regulatory approval process using building models. Long-term objectives include the development of an extensive, open-source rule set library that is approved by industry and regulatory bodies for use by technology developers and code officials.
| Sep 1, 2011
EPA Says Additional Lead Paint Cleaning Rules Not Necessary
The EPA has concluded that current Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (LRRP) cleaning requirements and lead-safe work regulations are sufficient to protect the public from lead dust hazards. “Our members have been instrumental in contacting legislators to detail the detrimental impact of the current LRRP," says Richard Walker, American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s president and CEO. “This collective industry voice has prompted the EPA to make the responsible decision to refrain from adding further, unnecessary costs to homeowners under the current economic climate."http://www.aamanet.org/news/1/10/0/all/603/aama-commends-its-members-congress-for-vacating-lrrp-clearance-rule
| Aug 11, 2010
Best AEC Firms of 2011/12
Later this year, we will launch Best AEC Firms 2012. We’re looking for firms that create truly positive workplaces for their AEC professionals and support staff. Keep an eye on this page for entry information. +
