Every year in New York City, up to 230,000 birds tragically lose their lives due to collisions with glass-covered buildings during migration. According to NYC Audubon, this alarming figure indicates a serious problem impacting both regional and North American ecosystems (PolitiFact, 2024). For birds that migrate through this urban environment on a seasonal basis, the city’s landscape—which is characterized by towering buildings with reflective windows and artificial lights—presents a risky barrier (American Bird Conservancy, 2021). As a result, the bird populations have decreased by over 3 billion in the United States and Canada since 1970. This issue highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts (ABC, 2021).

Figure 1.

Pisano, S. (2024). Collisions with buildings is one of the leading anthropogenic causes of bird deaths. Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/bird-deaths-from-window-strikes-are-way-higher-than-we-ever-imagined-2000484686

The causes for these birds’ mass deaths are simple. The migratory birds run into reflective windows when they descend because of bad weather or fatigue, which causes high-impact accidents (ABC, 2021; Audubon, 2023). Birds frequently fly straight into the glass, mistaking it for the wide sky or adjacent trees. Artificial lights intensify the issue at night by misleading nocturnal migrants and luring them to lighted cityscapes. Recent die-offs near the World Trade Center illustrate how inclement weather, combined with rain, wind, bright lights, and glass surfaces, makes this tragic cycle occur more often (ABC, 2021).

Figure 2.

Nagle, M. (2023). Brookfield Place and One World Trade are among the city’s worst deathtraps for migrating birds, with about 100 colliding into the glassy buildings this year. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2024/11/13/us-news/bloody-bird-collisions-in-nyc-skyrocket-this-autumn/

Birds are important to preserving ecosystem equilibrium. They aid in pollination, seed distribution, pest management etc. In addition to posing a threat to biodiversity, their decline—which is intensified by urbanization—also runs the risk of destabilizing the ecosystems on which humans rely for environmental quality and food security (PolitiFact, 2024). Therefore, it is vital from an ethical, ecological, and public health viewpoint to address the causes of bird mortality in densely populated locations such as our city.

Figure 3.

Butcher, S. (2020). Nearly 1,000 birds have been killed this autumn from flying into New York City skyscrapers. NYC Bird Alliance

New York City has already responded by taking several actions, but much more needs to be done. Addressing the major cause of bird crashes in the 2020 passage of Local Law 15 was a big step. It mandates that new buildings have bird-friendly glass designs and lower window reflectivity (American Bird Conservancy, 2021). Additionally, the city supports programs like NYC Audubon’s “Project Safe Flight,” which keeps an eye on crash scenes and gives lawmakers statistical information to encourage safer building codes and retrofitted buildings (Audubon, 2023). By encouraging citizens and building owners to switch off extraneous lights, public efforts like “Lights Out New York” seek to reduce artificial light emissions during the migratory seasons. Evidence has shown that such initiatives lead to fewer bird casualties (Audubon, 2024).

Figure 4.

Schleiffer, P. (2007). Yellow Warblers migrate through New York City, stopping in our parks to feed and rest. This beautiful species also nests in all five boroughs. NYC Bird Alliance. https://nycbirdalliance.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight  

Making New York City a safer place for migratory birds, however, would require a greater effort. Adding non-reflective or patterned glass to older buildings to avoid crashes is still difficult and calls for more financing and support. Strengthening present efforts can be achieved by encouraging private building owners to make bird-friendly modifications to their properties. Educational initiatives encourage locals about the negative effects of light pollution and easy ways to make their homes bird-safe, like installing special window screens, utilizing window decals, or shutting blinds at night, especially the locals who live in high-building apartment complexes (ABC, 2021).

The risks are high, but every change contributes to a collective impact that can save thousands of birds’ lives annually. Organizations like NYC Audubon, the American Bird Conservancy, and grassroots advocates are working tirelessly to turn New York City into a model of urban wildlife conservation. However, engaging communities, raising public awareness, and demanding stronger bird-friendly laws will ensure that migratory birds continue to thrive for generations.

If interested in getting informed regarding this issue visit our full website: https://birdsproject.commons.gc.cuny.edu/

References

American Bird Conservancy. (2021). Mass Bird Deaths in NYC due to Building Collisions. Retrieved from abcbirds.org
NYC Audubon. (2023). Project Safe Flight Overview. Retrieved from audubon.org
PolitiFact. (2024). Bird Death Statistics in NYC and the U.S. Retrieved from politifact.com