After last fall’s bird massacre, and prolonged pressure from bird advocates, McCormick Place in Chicago has finally taken steps to address the issue at its Lakeside Center with birds flying into its large expanse of lake-facing glass.
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which manages McCormick Place, is spending $1.2 million to install bird-safe film on the building’s exterior windows, according to WBEZ. The project began in early June and is expected to be finished by early fall, in time for bird migration season.
The special film that covers the glass is designed to prevent the birds from flying into the glass. Birds navigate by the moon and stars, so bright lights at night scramble their navigation. They don’t perceive windows as solid objects, and if lights are left on at night in buildings, they fly toward the lights and crash into the glass. The bird-safe film is covered in tiny dots to help the birds perceive the windows and avoid flying into them, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
In addition to the bird-safe film, facility managers at the building plan to take other steps to protect birds, including drawing curtains at night and ensuring non-essential lights are shut off at night.
Bird advocates in Chicago hailed the move as a great first step and a good example for other buildings in the city with large expanses of glass. But the end goal, according to one organization, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, is to ultimately have bird safety measures written into the city’s sustainability and building codes.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
