It’s exciting to report some progress on bird-friendly building design here in the Chicago region. Birds rely on the moon and stars to navigate, and bright lights from reflective glass structures attract and confuse them. Often, they can’t perceive the glass and think they can fly straight through. The big news, of course, is that McCormick Place has begun a $1.2 million project to retrofit its glass façade with a bird-safe film that will deter migratory birds from flying into the building’s windows. After a tragic night in October of 2023 in which almost a thousand migratory birds perished as they crashed into McCormick Place’s glass windows, the pressure on the facility to address the long-standing problem mounted. The event was covered in both local and national media, reinforcing Chicago’s reputation as a deadly place for migrants due to its heavy light pollution and position in the central migratory flyway. The initiative will require several months to complete but is expected to be in place in time for fall migration.
In other local news, Lake County recently passed ordinances requiring bird-friendly building design in all government construction and in all nonresidential construction in unincorporated Lake County. These successes are largely due to the committed advocacy of BCN Advocacy Co-Chair Donnie Dann to educate legislators and gain public support. In Kane County, the Forest Preserve District committed to installing in all future construction wildlife-friendly lighting that is designed to reduce light pollution in adherence to standards set by Dark Sky International.
Let’s hope other communities take note and look at ways to reduce the impact of light pollution and find ways to be more wildlife-friendly.