Migrating birds have a problem with tall buildings – and a team of scientists are doing their best to establish new systems to help birds from accidentally…killing themselves.
At a glance:
- Chicago high-rises pose a deadly risk to migrating birds, with hundreds colliding with buildings each fall and spring.
- Volunteers from the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors rescue injured birds and document fatalities, with many being sent to wildlife rehabilitation centers.
- Efforts to make buildings safer for birds are underway, including a new $1.2 million bird-safe window project at McCormick Place.
In downtown Chicago, avian enthusiasts are on a mission to save migrating birds from the deadly hazards posed by the city’s towering glass buildings. Volunteers, such as those from the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, are out at dawn, collecting injured birds that have crashed into buildings. On a typical morning, Annette Prince, director of the organization, finds a tiny Nashville warbler lying on the concrete, another victim of a collision with a glass window.
Chicago sits on a major migratory path, with millions of birds passing through each spring and fall. Tragically, many fall prey to the city’s bright lights and glass buildings. One devastating night last fall saw 1,000 birds die after flying into the glass exterior of McCormick Place, a massive lakefront convention center. In response, the facility recently installed bird-safe window film on one of its buildings, a project that conservationists like Doug Stotz from the Field Museum hope will make a difference. Early signs are positive, with only 20 bird deaths reported this fall.
While preventive measures like bird-safe glass are being tested, rescue efforts continue. Volunteers like Prince document the birds they find and send rescued ones to wildlife rehabilitation centers. The DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center in suburban Illinois plays a crucial role in rehabilitating these injured birds. According to Sarah Reich, head veterinarian at DuPage, the center sees about 10,000 animals a year, 65% of which are birds—many of them victims of window collisions. At the center, injured birds like a yellow-bellied sapsucker with a broken wing receive medical treatment, followed by rehabilitation and flight testing. “The large chunk of these birds do actually survive and make it back into the wild,” Reich says. It’s a small but significant victory for these delicate creatures, as the city continues to work on making its towering skyline safer for them.