Bird-Friendly Building Design Bird-Friendly Building Design

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The white stripes on this glass wall are an easy way to make a verydangerous area safe for birds. Photo: Hans SchmidLocationAre there particular windows, groups of windows, orbuilding facades that account for most collisions? Itmay be cost effective to modify only those sectionsof glass. Is glass located where birds fly betweenroosting or nesting and feeding sites? Are there areaswhere plants can be seen through glass – for example,an atrium, courtyard, or glazed passageway?Are there architectural or landscaping features thattend to direct birds towards glass? Examples mightbe a wall or rock outcropping, or a clear pathwaybordered by dense vegetation. Solutions here mightinclude using a screen or trellis to divert flight paths.Are there fruit trees, berry bushes, or other plantsnear windows that are likely to attract birds closer toglass? These windows should be a high priority forremediation. The glass itself can be modified, but itmay also be possible to use live or inanimate landscapingelements, to block the view between foodsources and windows.Local Bird PopulationsWhat birds are usually found in the area? Local birdgroups or volunteers may be able to help characterizelocal and transitory bird populations, as well asthe most likely routes for birds making short flightsaround the area.While patterns on the exterior surface of glass are most effective, blindsand curtains can help disrupt reflections. Partially open blinds, like thoseseen here, are most effective. Photo: Christine Sheppard, ABCLocal bird-watchers can be a source of detailed information about local birds and their movements. Photo: Chip Miller50 Bird-Friendly Building Design
The Indigo Bunting is a common summer resident and migrant in theeastern United States. Photo: Barth SchorreThe American Birding Association (www.aba.org/resources/birdclubs.html), Bird Watchers Digest(www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/connect/birdclubs/clubfinder.php?sc=migrate), Audubonchapters (http://www.audubon.org/search-by-zip),and Birding.com (www.birding.com/organizations.asp) are good places to start finding such resources.Nearby universities, colleges, and museums mayalso be helpful.ResearchResearch on songbirds, the most numerous victimsof collisions, has shown that horizontal spaces mustbe 2” or narrower, to deter the majority of birds. Verticalspaces must be 4” or narrower. This differencepresumably has to do with the shape of a flying birdwith outstretched wings. Within these guidelines,however, considerable variation is possible whendevising bird-friendly patterns. We recommend thatlines be at least ¼” wide, but it is not necessary thatthey be only vertical or horizontal. Contrast betweenpattern and background is important, however, beaware that the background – building interior, sky,vegetation – may change in appearance throughoutthe day. Effective patterns on the exterior surface ofglass will combat reflection, transparency and passageeffect. In the case of handrails or other applicationsviewed from both sides, patterns should beapplied to both surfaces if birds can approach fromeither side.This Barn Swallow flying sideways through a barn door perfectly illustratesthe 2 x 4 rule. Photo: Keith Ringland.There are many quick, easy, and cost-effective ways to deter collisions ona short term basis. Here, tape stripes, stenciled, and free hand patterns intempera paint on home windows. Photo: Christine Sheppard, ABCBird-Friendly Building Design51
Page 1: Bird-FriendlyBuildingDesign
Page 4 and 5: Issues of cost prompted Hariri Pont
Page 6 and 7: Introduction
Page 8 and 9: architects to mark the beginning of
Page 10 and 11: Problem: GlassThe glass in this Was
Page 12 and 13: Large facing panes of glass can app
Page 14 and 15: Plantings on setbacks and rooftops
Page 16 and 17: Solutions: Glass
Page 18 and 19: FOA made extensive use of bamboo in
Page 20 and 21: Awnings and OverhangsOverhangs have
Page 22 and 23: Patterns on GlassPatterns are often
Page 24 and 25: Opaque and Translucent GlassOpaque,
Page 27 and 28: This window at the Philadelphia Zoo
Page 29 and 30: Artificial light is increasingly re
Page 31 and 32: Reducing exterior building and site
Page 33 and 34: Downtown Houston during Lights Out.
Page 35 and 36: Changing human behavior is generall
Page 37 and 38: APPENDIX I: THE SCIENCE OF BIRD COL
Page 39 and 40: species - is still being investigat
Page 41 and 42: Both increased height of trees and
Page 43 and 44: argument that patterns applied to t
Page 45 and 46: APPENDIX II: BIRD MIGRATIONBird col
Page 47: Night-migrating songbirds, already
Page 52 and 53: Madrid’s Vallecas 51, designed by
Page 54 and 55: REFERENCESAvery, M.L., P.F. Springe
Page 56 and 57: External shades, as shown here on t
Page 59: The Orange Cube, a commercial and c

Bird-Friendly Building Design Bird-Friendly Building Design

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