Anyone who has seen a bird fly into a window knows how distressing it is, but in cities filled with skyscrapers, the death toll on migrating birds is critical.
New legislation in Washington DC now requires all new builds to use ‘bird-friendly’ materials, which could include screens or decals so the birds see the windows and don’t collide, or special coatings and films to make the glass less reflexive.
The laws apply to multi-residential, institutional and commercial buildings, though not single family homes at this stage. Related research found that making buildings bird-friendly adds little to the cost, but can also increase energy-efficiency.
