Individual window treatment is important but building-scale solutions — from glass specifications in new construction to retrofit programs — can protect billions of birds from one of their leading human-caused threats.
Bird-safe glass incorporates elements visible to birds but not humans, including ultraviolet-reflective patterns and fritted glass. LEED certification and WELL building standards increasingly incorporate bird-safe glass criteria. New York City passed Local Law 15 in 2021 requiring bird-safe design in new buildings up to 75 feet. The American Bird Conservancy Bird-Friendly Building Design guidelines provide specifications for new construction. Building-scale retrofits using external netting or film have been shown to reduce strikes by over 90% at previously high-mortality buildings.