Building to Incorporate Bird-safe Features

A building to be constructed in downtown Omaha is incorporating specific features that can make the structure less hazardous to migratory birds.

"We recognize there are building design elements that are proven to reduce bird collisions," said Robert Jones, chief administrative officer of the Gavilon Group, L.L.C. "To help minimize collision risks, we plan to incorporate low to mid-reflective, tinted glass with gradient frit detail or solid glazing. In addition, the current design does not include windowed courtyards or other design traps that may draw birds toward a glass wall.
Finally, we will be working with the city of Omaha on its landscape design and will take into consideration exterior elements, such as nearby trees and lighting, which may increase the risk of bird collisions."

Architectural rendition of pending Gavilon building; (Courtesy image).

This information was in response to an email sent to company officials, with comments based upon an architectural rendering of the structure, which seemed to indicate features that could be a threat to migratory birds. 

Further details were also provided, from the "site design team."The site plan "submittal package" provided to the Planning Department of the city of Omaha said: “Each of the mitigating factors are supported by the site plan submittal package, including the digital samples for fritted glass, and coloration of the curtainwall, storefront, and spandrel glazing systems. The site plan also clearly supports that there are no windowed courtyards, and that we have worked to balance the City’s reasonable requirements for a pedestrian-friendly streetscape without planting an overabundance of trees at the site perimeter. 

"In reading through The Audubon Society of Minnesota’s Bird Safe Building Guidelines of 2010, the building voluntarily incorporates several of the design considerations that are suggested, all while balancing a consistent streetscape design that promotes pedestrian activity. There is no planned “beacon” or night illuminated atrium for the building, and no red lights approved or planned. 

"Additionally, the lower two levels of the building, which  it appears has the highest incidence rate of bird collisions, utilizes multiple materials to 'break up' the glass façade, including perforated metal panel, architectural louvers, and a strong precast base. The south elevation of the building has no trees and landscape areas very close to the building, which will further discourage bird collisions. Additionally, the upper levels of the building will utilize a low-to mid-reflective glazing system, balancing  the concerns about glass that is either too transparent or too reflective. A fritted glass detail is also incorporated in the larger glass facades at the trading level to further break up any unintentional reflectivity of the outside environment.”

"We are proud to be constructing our new world headquarters building in downtown Omaha and strive to be a responsible neighbor," Jones said.

Gavilon, a commodity management and trading firm, is building their new corporate headquarters on a city block which was formerly the Omaha World-Herald building. It had most recently been a green space. The trees were apparently transplanted prior to ground work being started.

Construction activities are currently underway, with the official groundbreaking on September 28th. Building construction is expected to be completed by December 2013.

UNO Plans Depict Potentially Hazardous Building

Plans for a new campus building show a design which may be hazardous to migratory birds.

A "Community Engagement Center" is to be built autumn 2011 and finished in spring 2012 on the north side of the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The building is shown in a rendering as having a north facade which is mostly glass. Other areas of glass also appear to be planned as exterior walls.

"Use of glass and light will add to the dynamic environment within, and will convey in a physical sense the university’s commitment to be open and accessible." — UNOmaha planning document

This document also refers to glass-enclosed conference rooms.

Rendering of the Community Engagement Center. Courtesy image.

If the north wall has an "open view" as shown, the landscaping typically planted on campus will be reflected in the glass, and possibly create the false impression of vegetation which are known to be a consistent danger to birds.

The rendering would seem to indicate that the building will not be bird-friendly.

A similar glass facade at the adjacent Criss Library is already known to be a hazard, as dead birds have been found next to the lower-level windows of the Tritsch Garden on the north side.

Dead birds have also been found on the south side of the recently remodeled Health Education and Physical Recreation building on the UNO campus. This facade is across the street from Elmwood Park, which worsens the danger. Birds leaving the green spaces of the park see trees reflected in the expanse of glass, and fly into the windows.

The extensive use of glass was used to provide exercisers a "pretty view" of the park land. This is causing unnecessary bird deaths.

Location of the Community Engagement Center, which also shows landscape features. Courtesy image.

There is something disingenuous about having a building likely hazardous for birds which is projected as being "engaging to the community" or housing the "Building Bright Futures Initiative" and even an office for "Omaha By Design."

One section of the planning document refers to the building wanting to adhere to LEED program which "encompasses a holistic approach to sustainable design."

There is no information to be found on the web that would indicate any effort was made to make the structure "engaging" (i.e., safe) for birds, which are also part of the campus community. The landscaping on campus, nearby Elmwood park and golf course, as well as the arboreal setting of Fairacres all contribute to this lively situation.

UNO buildings are only making the environment more of a hazard. There are obvious and well-proven measures which could readily make the structure bird-friendly. A single bird death will instantly indicate that a holistic design was not used.

Chicago Skyscraper Gets Award for Being Bird-Friendly

A skyscraper being built in Chicago has received an award for incorporating features that will make it bird-friendly.

The Aqua Tower - designed by architect Jeanne Gang and her firm, Studio Gang Architects - includes an undulating exterior and will use fritted glass, which is etched to make it easier for birds to see.

The architectural firm received the Proggy award from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "The American architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase 'form follows function,'" said Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA president. "In the Aqua Tower, form follows compassion."

PETA provided a letter of congratulations to the firm, which will also receive a framed certificate.

Chicago is in the forefront in addressing the impacts of bird strikes. They were the first U.S. city involved in the Lights Out Program, according to the Chicago Audubon Society, with about 25 buildings now taking part in the program. In 2007, the city issued a design guide for new construction and renovation.

In an article recently published in the Financial Times of London, Jeanne Gang, along with others, discussed bird-friendly building design and factors that can reduce bird mortality.

Birds striking glass windows causes the deaths and injuries to millions of birds across the United States each year.

This article was published first at the Blogger News Network.

Visitor Centers Being Designed to be Bird-Friendly

Sherburne NWR visitor center.

Visitor centers at nature refuges are being designed and built in a manner to ensure they are bird-friendly and that deadly window strikes do not occur.

This initiative started 5-10 years ago for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while the agency was "developing standard design features for visitor centers to reduce up front-costs and to provide a similar look to centers across the different refuges," said Kevin Kilcullen, a spokesman for the agency.

The agency wanted to make sure that buildings were attractive places for visitors but did not pose a threat to migratory birds.

"We think we met these objectives," Kilcullen said, "but continued to evaluate methods that would remove any threats to birds. "Two-three years ago when we started a new initiative to make wildlife refuges more bird-friendly to attract birders, we included additional efforts to minimize bird strikes."

The agency now actively works to have bird-friendly structures when new centers are designed and constructed. Steps taken recently at different refuges include:

• The team developing a design for a new center at Sherburne NWR, in MN, is aware of the potential for bird strikes and will include designs to avoid or minimize any chance of occurrence.
• The recently completed center at Tualatin River NWR is being monitored to ensure that if any strikes do occur, steps can be taken to rectify the situation.
• The new center at Ottawa NWR on the southern edge Lake Erie – a known "hotspot" for bird migration - is being closely monitored to make certain that there are no bird strikes at the structure.
• At Blackwater NWR, where the observation tower has a large area of glass to allow easy viewing of birds on the nearby Chesapeake marshlands. If bird strikes would be noted, refuge staff would then take measures to rectify the situation, Kilcullen said.

Kodiak NWR visitor center.

Tualatin River NWR visitor center.

In 2008, the American Bird Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service staff held a meeting at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) to discuss this topic.

Various methods to reduce bird strikes against windows and outreach efforts were discussed, according to Karin Christensen, of the F.W.S. "NCTC has installed CollidEscape filming on the exterior of target windows, which reduced bird strikes by 100%. The American Bird Conservancy is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification points for builders that take into consideration bird strikes."

At Encinitas, California, the new nature center at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is also being monitored.

The "operations staff has considered the potential threat of the glass windows in the building for passing wildlife," said Cailin Hunsaker, the district park manager. "They have decals ready to place if they notice this problem, and we would continue to address it until we find a permanent solution."

"It is a challenge is to allow bird watching through large windows, while making sure there are no bird strikes" said Kilcullen. "It is a fine line between bird protection and making them more accessible for viewing."

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The New York Audubon Society recently issued a 55-page manual on "Bird-Safe Building Guidelines, for architects, landscape designers, engineers, glass technicians, developers, building managers, city, state, and federal officials, and the general public." The report includes ways to retrofit buildings which are known to pose a threat and cause deadly bird strikes.

NYC Audubon Issues Bird-Safe Building Guidelines Manual

By James Ed. Ducey

The New York City Audubon Society has just released Bird-Safe Building Guidelines that can help to reduce the impact of buildings on migratory birds.

The 55-page manual is for “architects, landscape designers, engineers, glass technicians, developers, building managers, city, state, and federal officials, and the general public,” said Glenn Phillips, Executive Director of the society. “It reveals the magnitude of bird-collisions with glass and describes the conditions that cause these deadly collisions. Bird-safety in buildings is integral to the green sustainable building movement.

“In many regards, the strategies for reducing bird-collisions complement other sustainable site and building objectives,” the manual explains.

The guidelines “suggest strategies that complement the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating system. The guidelines also suggest ways to retrofit existing buildings,” Williams said.

Technical strategies given in the illustrated manual include: 1) Comprehensive Local Actions for Bird Safety; 2) Bird-Safe Site Planning and Landscape Design; 3) Bird-Safe Enhancements to the Building Envelope; 4) Modifications to Existing Buildings to Reduce Bird Collisions; 5) Bird-Safe Building Operations; and 6) Emerging Technologies.

An graphic indicates the different elevations which are most hazardous to different species of birds. The ground level and bottom few floors present the most danger.

Several case studies are presented which show proven methods to minimize bird-collisions with different types of buildings. Different methods of retro-fitting to reduce impacts at known danger points are several of the case studies presented.

A checklist of bird collision liabilities is a summary of conditions that can contribute to bird injury and mortality, including region, site, the extent of the glass façade, lighting and other features.

“In many regards, the strategies for reducing bird-collisions complement other sustainable site and building objectives,” the manual explains.

NYC Audubon’s Project Safe Flight was initiated in 1997. It monitors buildings in New York where bird collisions occur during migratory periods. Over 5000 dead and injured birds of more than 100 species have been documented thus far.

“It is estimated that 100 million birds are killed every year in the united states alone through collisions with buildings., second only to habitat loss as a cause of declining populations, some experts believe the number is even higher, perhaps as many as one billion killed annually." - NYC Audubon

A list of references is also included.

Another pertinent work on this topic are the Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines, released in mid-May by the city of Toronto.

This publication offers “a comprehensive list of voluntary options and strategies to help developers, building owners, managers, tenants, architects, planners, urban designers and residents reduce bird collisions.”

Bird-Safe Building Guidelines (38.32 mb)

Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines (8.2 mb)