Glass facades in Chicago are turning into deadly traps for birds

Nature conservation activists in Chicago are demanding the adoption of a city regulation that would require investors to use materials and solutions that are safer for birds, while the proposal is currently before the Urban Planning Committee, whose session is scheduled for October 13.

The problem recurs every autumn during migration: according to data from the BirdCast system, on certain October nights as many as five million birds flew over Cook County, and many perish by crashing into the glass facades of skyscrapers. The greatest danger is posed by illuminated buildings and vast glass surfaces, which birds often do not recognize as obstacles.

For two decades, volunteers from the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors organization have been patrolling city sidewalks, rescuing injured birds and collecting dead specimens for scientific research at the Field Museum. The Chicago Ornithological Society, Chicago Bird Alliance, and Lincoln Park Zoo support the new initiative and are calling for binding measures such as special glass, reduced nighttime lighting, and architectural solutions that allow birds to recognize obstacles.

Experts point out that skyscrapers along Lake Michigan are particularly at risk, where migration routes intersect with densely built urban areas. Residents are advised to turn off unnecessary lights during migration, place markers on windows, and move plants away from glass surfaces.