Saving Birds By Design

Reflective glass high-rises kill millions of birds each year, but bird-friendly design can save birds and reduce energy consumption.

2 minute read

January 6, 2022, 12:00 PM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Architects know how to stop birds from flying into buildings, writes Alexandra Lange—but "those standards clash with the big glass and big views that clients associate with big money." To prevent birds from mistaking reflective glass windows for trees or open space, designers can use patterned glass, exterior screens, and reduced lighting. But according to Kate Orff of architecture and design studio SCAPE, an emphasis on giant glass panes has turned Manhattan into "a giant bird killer." 

During last September's fall migration season, volunteers with NYC Audubon's collision monitoring project documented hundreds of bird strikes at the World Trade Center, and a heightened interest in birdwatching during the pandemic has led more people to pay attention to, and want to save, urban birds. 

In early 2021, New York City implemented legislation that mandates bird-friendly design in new buildings and requires city buildings to turn off nonessential lighting at night during migration season.

The best example of a bird-safe retrofit, from the point of view of scale and effectiveness, is Manhattan’s Javits Center, which spent five years replacing the convention center’s clear glass with panels covered in tiny ceramic dots as part of a $500 million environmental retrofit that also added a 6.75-acre green roof. Almost imperceptible to the human eye, those dots nonetheless cut bird death by 90% — and energy consumption by 26%.

The article points out that bird collisions don't just happen with high-rise buildings, but there are low-cost changes homeowners can make to reduce bird strikes at home, such as safety netting or patterned window films.

Tuesday, January 4, 2022 in Bloomberg CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

1 hour ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

2 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

3 hours ago - Bloomberg