Advances in Window Security Come to the Cornell Lab and Cornell Campus

Yearly, as much as one billion birds die from window strikes within the U.S, species of all sizes introduced down by the invisible tragedy of glass. A rising physique of analysis surrounding the severity of window collisions—and methods to keep away from them—has resulted in additional organizations shifting towards bird-friendly buildings, together with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Constructed in 2002, the Lab’s house in Sapsucker Woods was designed to harmonize with the panorama and permit guests to immerse themselves on the planet of birds. Its two-story construction, constructed with pure supplies like cedar and stone, is inconspicuously set beneath the treeline of the encircling 220-acre sanctuary. Overlooking the pond and feeder backyard is a tall, glass-fronted observatory, which options an 84-foot-wide, two-story expanse of home windows. 

The Lab’s architects realized these giant swaths of glass posed a risk to birds, however to not the extent recognized as we speak: on the time of building, there was restricted analysis in regards to the scale of window strikes, and correct steering for stopping collisions had but to emerge. 

“If you happen to have a look at the Lab of Ornithology from the surface, you may see that the glass is about again from metallic pillars and framing, quite than being flush,” mentioned Miyoko Chu, the Lab’s senior director of science communications. “From an architectural perspective, it was thought that birds would see the metallic and alter course earlier than placing the glass. However analysis as we speak reveals that birds don’t use the identical visible cues as people. They don’t acknowledge that there’s a laborious floor between the metallic, in order that they attempt to fly by means of—maybe as if flying between the trunks and branches of bushes.” 

The transparency and reflectivity of glass usually trigger birds to understand home windows as extensions of their habitat. Solely clear buildings corresponding to glass bridges or breezeways enable birds to see by means of to bushes and the sky, and the phantasm of open air leads to birds hurtling into the glass with out realizing it’s there. Reflective home windows act equally; birds see a mirage of bushes and sky that they fly towards. 

Collision mitigation methods are centered round breaking apart these pictures of foliage. Quite a few research have proven that birds are more than likely to fly into home windows except the glass is retrofitted with a 2-inch by 2-inch sample to interrupt up reflections (utilizing implements corresponding to stickers/decals and tape, amongst many different choices) or if home windows are manufactured to include indicators that may cease collisions. These findings clarify why the Lab’s authentic window design has been largely ineffective in stopping strikes.

“To make the Lab’s home windows safer, we thought of a number of choices, evaluating elements corresponding to aesthetics, value, sturdiness, and ease of set up and upkeep,” Chu mentioned. “Finally, we selected Acopian BirdSavers, cords that hold in entrance of the home windows, largely due to their larger effectiveness ranking from the American Chicken Conservancy in contrast with movie utilized to the surface in patterns corresponding to dots or stripes.”

A separate possibility is to hold fowl netting in entrance of a window. This method is much more efficient and has all the time coated the window that overlooks the Lab’s busy feeder backyard—a high-risk space in instances when startled birds might hurtle away from a feeder and in the direction of a window.

The Lab is now working to assist bird-friendly constructing initiatives elsewhere on Cornell College’s campus. Collaboration with companions on campus and the American Chicken Conservancy’s Home windows Collision program has already proven outcomes—in late August, the college revealed new bird-friendly design and building requirements. These will information new building tasks on safer buildings, landscaping, and window designs. Further plans are underway to establish and deal with problematic buildings on campus by means of additional monitoring and outreach. 

Whereas the enormity of the collision situation is daunting, in a distinct gentle it’s an amazing alternative to make adjustments to our buildings and assist maintain these one billion birds alive and flying. To take action would require initiatives throughout universities and cities—in addition to efforts on the particular person degree to make properties extra bird-friendly.