Reflective glass high-rises kill millions of birds each year, but bird-friendly design can save birds and reduce energy consumption.
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.
FULL STORY: Buildings Don't Have To Be Bird-Killers
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Median Home Prices Top $1 Million in Over 200 California Towns
Towns once known for their affordability are seeing sharply rising home prices.
LA County Receives Reconnecting Communities Grants
Seven grant awards totaling $162 million will be used for planning, capital projects, and regional partnerships to reduce environmental harm and improve access in disadvantaged communities.
Seine Pollution Could Hinder Olympic Swim Events
Events like the triathlon could be impacted if tests continue to reveal high levels of dangerous bacteria in Paris’ famous river.
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