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
Codes and Standards | Sep 10, 2020
Fannie Mae programs provide incentives for multifamily solar
Affordable housing projects can find PV installations to be cost-effective.
Codes and Standards | Sep 9, 2020
Corporate pledges accelerate net-zero building movement
World Green Building Council drives goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Codes and Standards | Sep 8, 2020
Study will examine elevator airflow amid COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers to investigate risk of airborne transmission.
Codes and Standards | Sep 4, 2020
Updated selection, application guide for plastic glazed skylights, sloped glazing released
Part of suite of skylight documents by Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance.
Codes and Standards | Sep 3, 2020
Turner Construction takes strong stand against racism
Shuts down work sites for anti-bias training.
Codes and Standards | Sep 2, 2020
California releases guide for state water policy
Water Resilience Portfolio is roadmap for meeting water needs as climate changes.
Codes and Standards | Aug 31, 2020
Fenestration alliance updates fenestration sealants guide
First update to 2009 document.
Codes and Standards | Aug 25, 2020
Platform will allow researchers to test energy system integration at scale
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently launched the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform.
Codes and Standards | Aug 20, 2020
Wariness of elevators may stymie office reopening
Workers could balk at returning to high-rises.
Codes and Standards | Aug 19, 2020
Existing laws may be restricting efforts to cut carbon emissions
Outdated policies favor fossil fuels.