The Bird-Safe Buildings Movement Continues to Grow

Each spring and fall, birds like the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and Black-throated Blue Warbler migrate hundreds if not thousands of miles only to face deadly threats in cities and neighborhoods. A recent study coauthored by the Audubon chapter NYC Bird Alliance found that over one billion birds in the U.S. die each year from window collisions due to reflective glass and artificial light at night. Simple, affordable solutions can make buildings and night skies safer for birds, and thanks to efforts by the Audubon network and other members of the Bird Collision Prevention Alliance, more individuals, property owners, and campuses are adopting bird-friendly glass and joining Lights Out programs.

The effectiveness of these measures is evident at McCormick Place in Chicago. Over 1,000 migrating birds collided with the building during a single night in October of 2023. In response, a coalition called Bird Friendly Chicago, which includes the Chicago Bird Alliance and Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, worked with management to address the issue. In 2024, Feather Friendly glass treatment was applied to the building’s windows, leading to a 95 percent reduction in bird collisions that fall. 

This success story is just one example of how window treatments and Lights Out measures can significantly reduce bird deaths. Audubon chapters, centers, and state and regional programs have played a key role in implementing these solutions, raising awareness, and encouraging cities, building owners, and communities to adopt bird-friendly practices. Here are some examples of how the Audubon network’s continued action is helping to create safer spaces for birds: 

Alabama 

A new building on the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) campus now features bird-safe etched glass, thanks in part to the efforts of Alabama Audubon. The chapter launched its Project Safe Flight initiative in 2023 to monitor and reduce window collisions, and since then volunteers have documented nearly 800 dead or injured birds across seven cities. With a grant from EBSCO Industries, the initiative has installed Feather Friendly decals and window films on over 5,000 square feet of windows at 11 buildings in Birmingham and Auburn, in partnership with organizations like the Alabama Wildlife Center and The Nature Conservancy. Alabama Audubon continues to work with local institutions to expand bird-safe practices, with plans to retrofit existing buildings in the future. 

Connecticut 

Ranger stations at East Rock Park and Edgewood Park in New Haven recently received bird-friendly upgrades thanks to a collaboration between Audubon Connecticut and several other local organizations. Both buildings are surrounded by bird habitat and had highly reflective windows that led to frequent bird collisions. The windows were retrofitted with vinyl dot decals that provide clear visual cues for birds. This project, made possible through a grant from the Disney Conservation Fund, aims to raise awareness about bird strikes and inspire others to take similar action. As public demonstration sites, these parks will showcase how bird-friendly measures can be implemented without compromising visibility. More window treatment projects are planned and underway to help protect bird populations in Connecticut.  

Florida

The City of Jacksonville officially joined the Lights Out Northeast Florida program, thanks to the efforts of Duval Audubon Society in partnership with Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens and St. Johns Regional Audubon. Since 2019, this program has worked to ensure safe passage for birds as they travel between their wintering and nesting grounds by encouraging community members to reduce light pollution. When Duval Audubon shared their concerns with the Jacksonville Jaguars over the proposed design of their new football stadium, the team was responsive and interested in learning more about Lights Out and how to protect birds. Thanks to the chapter's work, more and more businesses and homeowners in Northeast Florida are joining Lights Out and signing their pledge. 

The Alachua County Audubon Society presented two University of Florida (UF) staff with awards for their work advocating for bird-friendly windows on campus, including retrofits to existing buildings and built-in features in new construction. After seeing a disturbing number of bird strikes, staff and student volunteers compiled a database of campus bird strikes and identifying problem buildings. Thanks to these efforts, UF has become the first major university in the U.S. to implement bird safety standards into its construction codes. 

Georgia

This spring, Birds Georgia is completing their largest window retrofit to date at the Camden County High School Fine Arts Building, bringing them to just over 5,000 square feet retrofitted with bird-friendly films since 2022.  With materials funded by a generous grant from the Disney Conservation Fund, Birds Georgia applied Feather Friendly film over the course of three volunteer workdays, with the help of volunteers from Camden County Audubon, as well as students and staff of Camden County High School.  Birds Georgia also helped to retrofit portions of the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant office in Brunswick, Georgia. This building was already partially retrofitted but had only a few untreated windows. All glass around the building is now treated with a bird-friendly film and will reduce or eliminate collisions for years to come. 

Minnesota

The week of October 7-12, 2024, was officially declared Lights Out Week in Minnesota, thanks to the efforts of Audubon Upper Mississippi River and DarkSky International chapter Starry Skies North. This proclamation aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of light pollution on migratory birds, which are often disoriented and fatally collide with buildings due to artificial lighting. Since the start of the Lights Out program in Minnesota in 2007, 96 buildings across 15 cities have participated in reducing light pollution. Minnesota’s declaration of Lights Out Week, along with the designation of specific Lights Out days, supports the state’s climate action goals to reduce energy consumption and protect both wildlife and dark skies, particularly along the critical Mississippi River Flyway. 

Nevada

Red Rock Audubon and campus chapter UNLV Birding and Conservation Club are working together to help prevent bird strikes at University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus buildings with highly reflective windows. After detailed planning, students started bird window collision surveys to gather evidence of dead birds or glass imprints on windows, and their monitoring indicates that three buildings need modification to help prevent collisions. The chapters have met with facility management to discuss these findings with the goal of implementing some collision-preventing decals on those buildings, creating a safer bird habitat.

North Carolina

A new article published by Audubon’s Hannah Partridge and campus chapter leaders the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) researched the frequency of bird-window collisions at high-risk buildings across campus and gathered lessons learned from those involved in the project. From these discussions, they recommended that similar conservation projects on university campuses should maximize project flexibility and consider how to best support stakeholders; build impact and momentum over time by engaging participants in unique ways; and leverage their previous experiences and use a solution-focused approach to ensure that participation is motivating and rewarding. In university settings, this is crucial for translating academic findings into practical solutions and empowering students – the next generation of leaders in the field – to help drive innovation and sustainability while fostering a campus culture that addresses environmental impacts and promotes healthy urban social-ecological ecosystems.

The City of Winston-Salem proclaimed the month of October 2024 as Lights Out Winston-Salem, a significant step in reducing the dangers that light pollution poses to migrating birds in North Carolina. This achievement is the result of tireless advocacy from local chapter Forsyth Audubon, whose members have been pushing for bird-friendly initiatives in the city a decade ago. 

Pennsylvania

After Bird Safe Philly, a coalition including Liberty Bird Alliance and Valley Forge Audubon Society, successfully retrofitted the windows at Sister Cities Café in downtown Philadelphia with collision-preventing dots, window collisions dropped sharply from 40 bird collisions a year to just four in 2024. With the help of numerous volunteers, Bird Safe Philly has expanded its efforts to retrofit the windows of environmental education centers in Philadelphia, including the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and the Pennypack Environmental Center. The coalition also advanced its Bird Safe Schools initiative, conducting programs and window retrofits at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, a private school bordering Philadelphia’s largest city park.

The Appalachian Audubon Society is launching a collision monitoring program this spring to align with its Lights Out initiative. The "Bird Safe Harrisburg" project aims to promote bird-safe glass and make the city safer for birds. Monitors will walk designated routes in the city during the spring and fall to collect injured and deceased birds. Injured birds will be taken to the West Shore Wildlife Center for care, and all bird data will be entered into an iNaturalist project to inform the Lights Out program and help identify solutions. Deceased birds will be used for research and added to permanent collections at the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.

South Carolina

Following Audubon South Carolina efforts to raise more awareness about light pollution interfering with bird migration, the South Carolina Senate recently declared March through May and August through October as “Lights Out Nights in South Carolina Season” and urged residents to turn out non-essential lights at night during these critical periods in the spring and fall. The cities of Charleston and Folly Beach have enacted similar proclamations for local residents and building owners. 

Staff recently completed a window retrofitting project at Beidler Forest Audubon Center make the building more bird-friendly. Collision abatement dots were installed just before the fall migration season, and since then the center has seen a marked decrease in window strikes. The added dots help birds recognize the windows as obstacles, preventing many of the fatal accidents that often occur during migration. 

Texas 

The City of Austin unanimously passed the Bird-Friendly Building Design resolution, which directs the City Manager and staff to explore the possible citywide implementation of bird-friendly building standards as part of Lights Out Austin. This effort was advocated for by the Bird Friendly Building Group, a collaboration of the conservation and built environment communities consisting of Travis Audubon, Audubon Texas, and partners from across Austin. The group will support City staff over the coming months as they develop recommendations for amendments to City Code or guidelines to incorporate standards for the construction of new buildings.

The Lights Out, College Station initiative at Texas A&M University is gaining traction to reduce bird collisions on campus, thanks to collaborative efforts facilitated by Texas Conservation Alliance intern and student Skyler Nix. University leaders are solidifying a path forward and determining possible retrofit solutions for AgriLife Center, a building of particularly high collision concern on campus. 

Audubon Texas and Houston Audubon presented on bird-friendly design at the AIA Texas Conference in Houston, where architects and designers had a chance to engage on why birds collide with glass and what can be done about it with design for both windows and lights. This led to fruitful conversations and provided a chance for us to connect with prominent groups like Gensler to begin conversations on how to create a training for credit and a guidebook for the state Texas. 

Virginia

In 2024, the Cape Henry Audubon Society Bird Safe/Lights Out team monitored downtown Norfolk and found 320 birds, mostly victims of glass collisions. Their data and species list mirrored other cities with similar programs, with warblers being the most common casualties. The team advocated for bird-safe glass in new building designs and renovations, meeting with architects and local stakeholders to discuss effective strategies. The chapter also worked with local businesses, including the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and Norfolk Casino, to ensure bird-friendly designs. Their efforts, supported by a grant from Audubon, have led to increased awareness and action, including building retrofits and reductions in light pollution.