Bird Strikes Plummet at McCormick Place
A Victory for Birds and Advocates
Birds have nearly stopped colliding into the McCormick Place Lakeside Center since bird-safe film was installed on the building’s windows last summer. Collisions into the mostly glass structure are down over 95% during the recent fall migration compared with previous seasons, according to the Field Museum.
The Problem: Glass Facade
The building’s glass facade is a major obstacle for birds. It’s tough for them to see a glass surface as a solid object. They also rely on the moon and stars to travel, and bright lights from glass structures at night throw off their navigation. Pulled toward the light, they often can’t perceive the glass and think they can fly straight through.
A Deadly Mass Strike
During each migration, hundreds of birds have crashed into the building’s glass facade and died. And for years, advocates have called for protections to be added to McCormick Place and Chicago’s other glass buildings. One night during the fall migration in 2023 was especially deadly: about 1,000 birds flew into the lakefront building and died. That drew widespread attention and outrage to the threat the building posed to birds.
A Solution: Bird-Safe Window Film
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority committed to closing drapes overnight and turning off unnecessary outside lights after the deadly strike. The authority also began seeking a longer-term solution and learned about Feather Friendly, a company that makes and installs bird-safe window film.
Over three months, the company installed the polka-dot film on McCormick Place’s 120,000 square feet of glass. The dots only cover about 6% to 8% of the surface, but it’s enough to signal to birds that a solid structure lies ahead.
The Results
Since installing the film at McCormick Place, collisions into the building’s glass facade are down over 95% during the recent fall migration compared with previous seasons. The film is also built to last and has never had to be replaced by Feather Friendly in the 18 years since they’ve been in business.
Conclusion
The installation of bird-safe window film at McCormick Place is a significant victory for birds and advocates. It’s a reminder that simple solutions can make a big difference in protecting the environment and conserving biodiversity.
FAQs
Q: What is bird-safe window film?
A: Bird-safe window film is a special type of film that is designed to reduce bird strikes by creating a visual signal that alerts birds to the presence of a solid object.
Q: How does the film work?
A: The film is made up of small, transparent dots that create a pattern that is visible to birds but not to humans. The dots only cover about 6% to 8% of the surface, but it’s enough to signal to birds that a solid structure lies ahead.
Q: Is the film effective?
A: Yes, the film is highly effective. Since installing the film at McCormick Place, collisions into the building’s glass facade are down over 95% during the recent fall migration compared with previous seasons.
Q: Is the film expensive?
A: No, the film is not expensive. According to Feather Friendly, it’s a very doable solution that can be implemented at a relatively low cost.
