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Sharing the Skies

Design elements for a bird-friendly built environment

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More than ever, our cities and towns are becoming not only our habitats but also homes for countless bird species. While this cohabitation can be enriching, it also poses challenges, particularly when birds collide with buildings, leading to injury or death. Designing bird deterrents into architectural plans is essential for mitigating these risks while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of our structures.

Bird collisions with buildings are more common than many realize. Glass facades pose a significant hazard as birds may perceive reflections as open space. The first 60 feet of a building, above ground level or above a planted terrace, are the most dangerous because reflected vegetation looks like natural habitat for the bird. The resulting collisions can be devastating for bird populations. While we can’t eliminate the threat completely, there are multiple strategies to consider that can make any structure safer for birds.

  1. Use Less Glass: The amount of glass on a building has a direct impact on birds. Through careful study of the building design, architects can optimize the amount of glass to provide good quality levels of daylight in buildings, while reducing the amount of glass to deter bird strikes and reduce energy use.
  2. Glass Treatments: One of the most effective deterrents is to modify glass surfaces to make them more visible to birds. Solid or etched patterns can break up the reflections and interrupt the transparency of glass, reducing the likelihood of collisions. Building designs can also include translucent glass or polycarbonate to reduce reflection and eliminate transparency while still allowing daylight into the space.
  3. Exterior Features: Adding exterior elements to buildings can help deter birds from flying into windows. Decorative grilles, exterior shades, and screens all provide a physical deterrent for birds while allowing for light and views to reach the indoor spaces. Insect screens are an extremely cost-effective way to protect birds.1
  4. Mindful Plant Placement: Avoid plants inside or adjacent to clear glass windows. Birds see this as a possible place to land and removing them from line of sight will prevent confusion.
  5. Lighting Design: Proper lighting design can significantly reduce bird collisions, especially during migration seasons when birds are more active at night. Using motion sensors and timers to dim or turn off interior & exterior lighting after dark can minimize the attraction of insects, which in turn reduces the presence of birds.1 Shielding lights to direct illumination downward also helps minimize glare and reflections.

Jun 26, 2024

Danielle Appello, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Associate Principal

Megan Zack, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP
Chief Sustainability Officer

Jun 26, 2024

IBEW Local 9

The IBEW Local 9 Crane Training Facility features translucent windows that reduce reflection while still bringing natural light into the building.

WWC Exterior Final 062424

The new Willowbrook Wildlife Center will feature a combination of ceramic frit on glass walls and a metal screen to prevent bird collisions.

The IBEW Local 9 Crane Training Facility features translucent windows that reduce reflection while still bringing natural light into the building.

The new Willowbrook Wildlife Center will feature a combination of ceramic frit on glass walls and a metal screen to prevent bird collisions.

Beyond these strategies, raising awareness among building occupants and the public is crucial. Providing educational materials about bird collisions and the importance of bird-friendly design encourages responsible behavior. Building occupants can also contribute by keeping blinds or curtains closed during migration seasons and turning off lights at night. Whether it's responsible architecture or public advocacy, we can all take steps to keep the spaces we share with birds and nature safe for all.

  1. American Bird Conservancy. (2019). Bird-friendly building design (Updated April 2019). American Bird Conservancy.

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Authors

Appello Square Compressed

Danielle Appello

Associate Principal

 Zack Square Compressed

Megan Zack

Chief Sustainability Officer