New York Largest U.S. City to Require Bird-Friendly Building Materials

The New York City Council "passed a new regulation mandating the use of 'bird-friendly material' in all new construction projects," according to an article by Shawn Simmons.

"Conservationists hope the new bill will curb the number of birds killed annually by collisions with the city’s buildings, a figure that currently ranges between 90,000 and 230,000," adds Simmons of the legislation approved on December 10, 2019.

The new requirements "will require 90 percent of the first 75 feet of new buildings to be constructed with materials that are easier for birds to identify as obstacles."

John Rowden, director of community conservation at the National Audubon Society, is quoted in the article describing how glass contributes to bird collisions. New York City poses significant risk to migratory birds because of its location along the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory routes around the world, according to Simmons.  

A separate article by Caroline Spivack broke the news on December 10, providing more detail on the political context for the bill, making New York City the largest U.S. city to require bird-friendly construction materials.