A report on bird-friendly architecture underscores the affordability of bird collision prevention when grounded in recommended science, technology, and standards. The report focuses on paving the way for state-level policies and standards aimed at safeguarding birds from collision-related hazards.
Published jointly by the Law, Ethics and Animals Program (LEAP) at Yale Law School and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the report illuminates how local laws and policies are advancing bird protections, particularly for species such as the Blackpoll Warbler, by reducing deadly building collisions.
Viveca Morris, LEAP’s executive director, notes the pivotal role played by U.S. cities in advancing bird-friendly building design and policies, exemplifying their effectiveness, affordability, and potential in the absence of federal legislation.
An alarming number of birds fall victim to window collisions in the U.S., with estimates reaching up to a billion. The policy study incorporates insights from four experts in bird collision prevention.
The research delves into the experiences of cities that have successfully passed bird-friendly laws. Five comprehensive case studies, including policies enacted in New York City, NY, Arlington County, VA, Madison, WI, Cupertino and San Francisco, CA, provide valuable insights.
The report draws from interviews with nearly two dozen stakeholders, including policymakers, advocates, glass manufacturers, architects, scientists, and community members involved in shaping or implementing local policies.
Since 2008, more than 20 U.S. cities and municipalities have adopted bird-friendly building policies, with Cook County, IL, leading the way. Recent additions include Washington, D.C., MD, and ME.
Christine Sheppard, ABC’s glass collisions program director, highlights the widespread impact of policies and their ability to address the problem at a larger scale. The report identifies approved bird-friendly materials such as glass treatments (e.g. fritting and etching, exterior insect screens, exterior blinds) and architectural features that shield large glass surfaces.
However, the report notes variations in the scope and comprehensiveness of bird-friendly building policies from city to city. Existing policies also share limitations, such as the exclusion of regulations in some areas, making retroactive applications to existing buildings necessary.
Meredith Barges, co-author of the study and co-chair of Lights Out Connecticut, emphasizes the urgency of developing new rules and strategies for mitigating existing building stocks, especially for high-collision structures.
Local governments can employ financial programs and regulatory policies to encourage developers, businesses, and homeowners to adopt bird-friendly practices, as seen in Arlington County, VA’s Green Building Incentive Program, which passed a density bonus requirement in 2020 to encourage bird-friendly buildings design and construction.
“Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy” is a publication of the Yale Bird-Friendly Building Initiative, which strives to promote bird-friendly building design. Supported by the Yale University Planetary Solutions Project, this initiative is a collaboration between LEAP, the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, the Yale Office of Sustainability, and the ABC.
