U.S. architects are now making efforts to design buildings that can save billions of birds each year. Recently, thousands of migrant birds died in Chicago in one night after crashing into a single building.
This is not surprising in the United States since the 50-state Western country is occupied by high-story buildings covered by glass. Based on statistics, around 1 billion birds die in the U.S. yearly after colliding with buildings.
Because of this alarming issue, many architects in the U.S. are now working on new bird-friendly designs that will prevent winged animals from crashing into skyscrapers.
US Architects Change Building Designs to Save Billions of Birds Yearly!
One of the buildings with a bird-friendly design is the 82-story Aqua Tower in Chicago, which was designed by architect Jeanne Gang. Unlike other skyscrapers that are commonly covered by glasses, this tall building has balconies that all extend in unique patterns.
This design makes the building look like a giant rock in the middle of the city, allowing birds to see it easily and avoid collisions. Gang said that the Aqua Tower is designed to work for both birds and humans.
Jeanne is just among the architects in the U.S. who make bird-friendly designs for skyscrapers and other tall man-made structures. Many American architects are experimenting with different kinds of designs.
These include patterned or coated glasses on buildings that can easily be seen by birds and other winged animals. Aside from these, wood, steel rod, and concrete exteriors are also being tested to see if they'll make building designs more bird-friendly.
While other architects are working on designs that can prevent bird-building collisions, some structural designers are creating designs that can attract birds to nest within buildings.
"Many people think about bird-friendly design as yet another limitation on buildings, yet another requirement," explained FXCollaborative's Sustainability Director Dan Piselli via The Guardian.
"But there are so many design-forward buildings that perfectly exemplify that this doesn't have to limit your design, your freedom," he added.
Why Birds Collide With Buildings
A detailed view of the One Thousand Museum building in Miami on February 19, 2020. - In the heart of Miami, among the towering skyscrapers that rise above the Bay of Biscayne, the eye-catching new luxury condo building by late star architect Zaha Hadid dominates the skyline.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that the main reason why birds collide with buildings is glass.
USFWS explained that these winged animals will think that they can pass through buildings covered with reflective glasses since they can see reflections of the sky, trees, and clouds.
Aside from this, birds are also attracted to landscaping and interior lights, causing them to crash into buildings.
Although some birds can survive after a serious collision, animal experts said that they would likely die from internal injuries.
Related Article: USFWS Offers Grim Proposal to Save Endangered Owls; How Will Killing Barred Owls Save Other Species?
