Too many birds have lost their lives over new inventions and building infrastructure. New types of glass, new types of lights, and the height of buildings etc. have all played parts into bird deaths over the many years. Changes are needed to protect and preserve the life of birds. Birds and humans should be able to coexist together and producing buildings of the sort doesn’t help this matter at all.
Firstly, different tech and Innovation Bird Collision Detecting Tech Invest in tech that can pick up on bird movement and alert building operators to potential collisions, allowing for timely interventions. While also introducing bird-visible smart glass, advancements in smart glass technology that can change in opacity or color based on environmental conditions. “Use of visual markers like wind socks, blinds, decals, banners, and hanging decorations on or near windows (ideally outside) to break up the reflective surface of the glass and make it more visible to birds reduces the risk of birds striking and helps to prevent birds from accidentally flying into windows, which can cause injury or death.” Motwani, Dr. K. T. (2023)
This shows using forms of glass that are not so reflective, or using patterns that make the glass itself, in the form of a window, more discernible to birds. This would, of course, add a whole new level of “smartness” to the not-inexpensive façades of our many tall, shiny, and very much in-the-way buildings
Another way to help solve this tragedy of bird death is inventing new laws and policies, building codes that can be safer for birds such as safety nets, urging the passage of local laws that require new construction and major remodeling to be safe for birds. “Installing nets or screens is also an effective way to create a barrier between birds and a risky transparent surface. Netting is relatively easy to fix, requiring no major modifications to the structure and with minimal impact on the vision from the inside or the aesthetic value of the structure can be used ”. Motwani, Dr. K. T. (2023)Garmon, T. (2020) Netting Systems [Photograph] Modern Contractor Solutions
Lastly, another convincing way to help improve life for these birds are public awareness and education, community engagement campaigns which can help carry out the educational campaigns necessary to make the public aware of the significance of conserving and preserving their population, which is rapidly declining because of human actions.
VerCauteren, T. (2024) Collaboratives Behind the Scenes: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies [Photograph]. Center For Collaborative Conservation
Enthusiastic attempts to conserve birds within communities are likely to be undermined by the continued loss of their habitats because of unaware public understanding of the issues involved. Citizen science programs enlist community members, youth population especially, in the monitoring of local bird populations and habitats.
In summary, bird life preservation isn’t a corner that should go unturned. Taking care of the problem of avian mortality in New York City takes a combination of unique, innovative designs, congressional action, and most importantly public education. Just as New York City life can be a dream, so too can it be a bird conservationist’s. Because any building can be a potential death trap, the crucial next steps are to find a way to educate builders and tenants about the problems their structures might pose and the kinds of solutions that might alleviate them. The burden can’t be on the birds.
In recent years, bird populations have experienced devastating declines, with nearly 30% of North America’s birds disappearing since 1970. This alarming trend, highlighted by the loss of 2.9 billion birds, has captured the attention of conservationists, especially as urban landscapes like New York City pose unique threats to migratory species (Axelson, 2019). As one of the busiest migratory passages in the United States, the city becomes both a haven and a hazard for millions of birds during seasonal migrations. Here’s why this issue matters and what we can do to address it.
Figure 1
Bird Hotspots Within Manhattan, A Total of 340 Species Recorded in the Borough
Note. From Birding in NYC (Manhattan), NYC Bird Alliance (https://nycbirdalliance.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-manhattan).
New York City’s towering skyline and intense artificial lighting present significant challenges for migratory birds. Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds collide with windows, often fatally. According to recent studies, bird-building collisions are one of the leading causes of avian mortality in urban areas, second only to habitat loss. The reflective surfaces of buildings confuse birds, who perceive mirrored skies or vegetation as viable flight paths. At night, artificial lights disorient birds, drawing them into urban areas, especially in New York City, where they face increased risks. This problem is compounded by broader declines in bird populations across the continent. Factors such as habitat destruction, pesticide use, and climate change worsen the pressures on bird species, making it crucial to mitigate the preventable causes of the between 90,000 and 230,000 migratory bird deaths in New York City (NYC Bird Alliance).
Migratory birds are not just beautiful; they are vital to ecosystems. Birds control insect populations, pollinate our native plants (e.g., vernonia noveboracensis, also known as New York ironweed), and disperse seeds, playing a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity (NYC Parks). Their decline signals broader environmental health issues, often linked to human activities. As Dr. Ken Rosenberg of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes, these losses go beyond birdwatching: “Because birds are highly visible and sensitive indicators of environmental health, we know their loss signals a much wider loss of biodiversity and threats to human health and well-being” (Cornell Chronicle, 2022). Moreover, protecting birds aligns with global conservation goals, including mitigating climate change. Forests and other habitats sustained by bird activity act as carbon sinks, reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. Ensuring the survival of bird populations benefits both the wildlife and humanity within New York City’s parks, green roofs, and gardens.
Figure 2
Willow-Leaved Sunflowers and Ironweed Plants at the Pollinator Garden in Calvert Vaux Park
Note. From Pollinator Place Gardens, NYC Parks (https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/pollinator-place-gardens).
Reversing these trends requires a multi-faceted approach, involving individuals, communities, and policymakers. Here are some steps every New Yorker can take to help reduce the deaths of these migratory birds:
Installing bird-safe glass and using decals or films to break up reflections to significantly reduce collisions. Cities like Toronto and San Francisco have adopted bird-friendly building codes, such as Section 139 of San Francisco’s Planning Code, which states that “buildings covered by the law must use bird-friendly glazing treatments identified and approved by the city, including: “fritting, netting, permanent stencils, frosted glass, exterior screens, physical grids placed on the exterior of glazing or UV patterns visible to birds” (Barges & Morris, 2023). Policies as such demonstrate that these changes are both feasible and effective.
Programs like “Lights Out” created by National Audubon Society, a non-profit aiming to protect birds and their habitats, encourage building owners to dim or turn off lights during migration seasons (spring: March to June, and fall: August to November). This simple yet impactful measure can save thousands of birds annually. As cities embrace sustainability, reducing unnecessary lighting aligns with energy-saving initiatives as well.
Advocating for policies such as the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – supports state, tribal, private, and national efforts to recover wildlife already identified as threatened or endangered, providing up to $1.4 billion annually so they can implement their federally-approved Wildlife Action Plans – because they can prioritize and fund large-scale efforts to protect bird habitats and reduce threats (National Wildlife Federation).
Citizen science programs, such as the Audubon Society’s bird counts, allow individuals to contribute data that informs conservation strategies. Additionally, urban greening projects, such as planting native vegetation, provide safe resting spots for migratory birds.
Everyday decisions, like keeping cats indoors (considering “cats are invasive species that kill birds, reptiles, and other wildlife; despite being fed, they will kill wild birds and other animals by instinct”), avoiding pesticides, and supporting sustainable products (e.g., shade-grown coffee), also contribute to protecting bird populations (NYC Bird Alliance).
Figure 3
Each Year, Domestic Cats Kill Approximately 2.4 Billion Birds in the U.S.
Note. From Keep Cats Indoors, Photo by Ivan Radic, NYC Bird Alliance (https://nycbirdalliance.org/take-action/make-nyc-bird-friendly/keep-cats-indoors). CC BY 2.0
The loss of bird species is a “death by a thousand cuts” scenario, but every small change can make a difference. As the Cornell Lab emphasizes, this is a critical moment for conservationists, policymakers, and everyday citizens to unite in addressing this crisis. New York City, as a hub for bird migration, has a unique opportunity to lead by example, showcasing how urban spaces can coexist with nature. By protecting migratory birds, we preserve not only the beauty and biodiversity of our planet but also the intricate ecological systems that sustain all life. The time to act is now, before the silence of their absence becomes irreversible.
References
Axelson, G. (2019, September 19). Vanishing: More Than 1 In 4 Birds Has Disappeared In The Last 50 Years. All About Birds. www.allaboutbirds.org/news/vanishing-1-in-4-birds-gone/?__hstc=161696355.6918464d158dc99993a16d7c59d24643.1732028788251.1732028788251.1732028788251.1&__hssc=161696355.1.1732028788251&__hsfp=33.
Barges, M., & Morris, V. (2023, August). Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy. American Bird Conservancy. static1.squarespace.com/static/5bbd32d6e66669016a6af7e2/t/64de22e3a2ada630d505bbfb/1692279531414/Excerpt+2023+Bird+Friendly+City+Report+SF+Case+Study.pdf.
Birding In Manhattan (n.d.). NYC Bird Alliance. nycbirdalliance.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-manhattan.
Global Bird Populations Steadily Decline (2022, May 5). Cornell Chronicle. news.cornell.edu/stories/2022/05/global-bird-populations-steadily-decline.
Pollinator Place Gardens (n.d.). NYC Parks. www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/pollinator-place-gardens.
Project Safe Flight: Helping Birds Migrate Safely Through New York City (n.d.). NYC Bird Alliance. nycbirdalliance.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (n.d.). National Wildlife Federation. www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Wildlife-Conservation/Policy/Recovering-Americas-Wildlife-Act
In New York City, a hidden crisis unfolds each spring and fall as thousands of birds on migration paths collide with the city’s glass-covered buildings. Brightly colored travelers such as warblers and woodpeckers face an untimely end when they fly into the reflective surfaces of buildings like Circa Central Park, a condominium complex near Central Park’s northwest corner (NYC Bird Alliance). These collisions are not isolated incidents but are part of a much larger, often devastating pattern affecting North America’s migratory bird populations.
Figure 1
Twenty-Eight Birds Found Dead After Flying Into Circa Central Park
Note. From Deathtrap NYC Condo Killed 28 Birds in One Day: Advocates, by Lapin et al., 2020, New York Post (https://nypost.com/2020/05/18/nonprofit-slams-upper-west-side-condo-for-killing-migratory-birds/).
Glass poses a particular danger to birds, as it reflects the sky and surrounding trees in ways that birds cannot perceive. Many migratory birds, accustomed to forests and open landscapes, observe these reflections as real and fly directly into them. As Dustin Partridge from NYC Audubon explains, the expanses of reflective glass in buildings like Circa have created tragic hotspots for bird collisions (New York Times, 2023). This issue is magnified in dense urban areas where the prevalence of glass structures and artificial lighting during migration seasons create particularly hazardous conditions.
The number of birds killed by building collisions each year in the United States reaches into the hundreds of millions. In New York, species like the white-throated sparrow and various warblers are disproportionately affected. The catastrophic loss of these migratory birds contributes to the overall 30 percent decline in North American bird populations since 1970 (New York Times, 2023). This decline is not due solely to collisions, as habitat loss and climate change compound the problem. However, the significant loss of life from glass collisions is an especially preventable cause.
Figure 2
White-Throated Sparrow
Note. From White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia Albicollis), by Minardi, R., 2022, NYC Bird Alliance (https://nycbirdalliance.org/blog/white-throated-sparrow-zontrichia-albicollis).
Because it’s one of New York’s deadliest sites for birds, Circa Central Park’s building has gained much negative attention. Its unfortunate reputation as a “death trap” for birds has spurred both local outrage and an internal call for change. Many residents, driven by distress at the continual bird deaths, have rallied to implement bird-friendly solutions; their efforts include adding dot-patterned window films, which reduce reflectivity and make the glass visible to birds without greatly interfering with the views that draw people to live there. The first phase of this project, focused on the building’s courtyard, has cost around $60,000, signaling a substantial investment from residents toward mitigating bird deaths (New York Times, 2023).
This response at Circa is part of a larger trend. Conservation groups like NYC Audubon have collaborated with volunteers and citizens to patrol buildings, documenting bird casualties and advocating for citywide legislative changes. In cities nationwide, volunteers like Melissa Breyer of Project Safe Flight collect data, report findings, and push for awareness and prevention. “My most emotionally overwhelming day happened there on September 14, 2021,” she said. “It was a mass casualty. I found 270 carcasses at three buildings—all within 90 minutes. Guards and passersby were helping me, dropping birds in my lap” (NYC Bird Alliance, 2022). This basic effort is a key driver of the bird-friendly building standards now required for new constructions and major renovations in cities like New York and San Francisco.
Preventing bird collisions requires cooperation between architects, building owners, and residents. Cities across North America are introducing policies to support bird-friendly design, encouraging innovations like patterned or frosted glass, especially on buildings’ lower levels where most strikes occur. New York’s Javits Center, for instance, saw a 90 percent drop in bird collisions after its glass was redesigned with bird-safety features (NYC Bird Alliance).
Figure 3
The Dotted-Pattern Bird-Friendly Glass Used By The Javits Center
Note. By Javits Center, 2020, X (https://x.com/javitscenter/status/1214655285547155456).
For older buildings, retrofitting windows can be challenging, both financially and aesthetically. Yet, companies like Feather Friendly have seen rising demand for their bird-safe window treatments, suggesting a shift in attitudes among property owners (New York Times, 2023). NYC Audubon and similar organizations have found that public awareness is steadily transforming consumer expectations. People increasingly view bird-safe buildings as a desirable standard, and even a marketing advantage for real estate, as awareness of environmental issues continues to grow.
While New York has made progress, existing buildings remain a difficult hurdle for widespread implementation of bird-friendly standards. At Circa, although many residents support bird-safe retrofitting, some remain concerned about the impact on their views, especially those facing Central Park. The property board’s decision to move forward gradually—testing initial changes in the less scenic courtyard first—exemplifies the compromises and negotiations that often characterize retrofitting projects.
Figure 4
Circa Central Park’s Landscaped Courtyard
Note. From Amenities, Circa Central Park (https://www.thecircacentralpark.com/amenities).
However, the costs of inaction may ultimately be more compelling. Bird fatalities, well-documented and shared widely on social media, are beginning to influence building marketability. Some residents and architects argue that a building’s reputation as a “bird killer” can lower its appeal to environmentally conscious buyers or tenants.
The issue of bird collisions in New York City sheds light on the need for innovative, ethical urban design that accommodates both human and wildlife needs. From Circa Central Park to the World Trade Center, community-driven conservation efforts demonstrate a willingness to confront and mitigate the risks posed to migratory birds. The continuing shift towards bird-safe architecture signals hope that these collective efforts can reduce the tragic toll on bird populations.
References
Amenities (n.d.). Circa Central Park. https://www.thecircacentralpark.com/amenitiesCollision Monitoring
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