Olympic Promotion Helpful in Reducing Bird Hazard

Promotional material installed on the west facade on the Qwest Center Omaha is the type of material helpful in reducing the danger of the reflective glass surface for birds.

The screening makes the wall visible to birds, whereas it was formerly transparent. The colorful material also removes the reflective character of the wall, which also renders the surface readily visible. Only a portion of the entire wall is being covered.

Window screening placed above the north entry.

Installing the window screening at the south end of the west wall.
Note the obvious difference in the reflective character of the setting once the glass is covered.

Another illustration of the screening, showing the change in the reflective character of the glass.

The International Olympic Committee paid for installation of the glass screening, according to the installers. Olympic swimming trials will be held at the facility in ten days.

More than 40 bird strikes, most of which resulted in a bird death, were recorded at this locale during May and through mid-June. With migration season over for now, there have been no additional records of bird strikes noted since June 11th.

Celebration of the Dead Improving Chances for Birdlife

Artwork for a celebration honoring the dead is - for a few days - slightly reducing the chances for migratory birds to strike hazardous glass windows at the Sheldon Art Gallery.

Colorful decorations hung in the west windows of the gallery for the Day of the Dead Celebration, render the building glass less of a threat to birds present among landscaping on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln city campus.

The cut paper works - made by class students - were installed on October 22nd, and will be kept in place through November 5th, according to gallery staff.

"El Dia de los Muertos is a centuries-old spiritual tradition celebrating the continuity of life by honoring the dead on their return to earth for one day each year," according to information about the celebration.

Decorations on glass windows at Sheldon Art Gallery.

Numerous birds have been killed because of striking the transparent windows at Sheldon. Nearly 20 records are available from 1992-2002, for the 15-day time period during which the hangings will be in place. Bird species which have been struck dead include the American Robin, Common Grackle, Dark-eyed Junco, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Sheldon Gallery - with the building itself considered a work of art - was built in 1963. Birds are regularly heard striking windows, gallery staff said.

The number of known strikes is much less than the actual extent of bird deaths, with many other occurrences throughout the year at Sheldon. The overall tally is more than 130 known window strike deaths. More have occurred on the west side of the building than on the east side, based on those records where the particular place where a bird carcass was found.

Threat to Birds Transformed by Public Art

Portion of window screen mural in place, showing the difference in the reflectivity of the skywalk glass.

By James Ed. Ducey

Public efforts to "transform a skywalk into a public art piece" will also benefit birds migrating through downtown Lincoln.

Two murals have been placed along the sides of a skyway connecting the parking garage to the building.

"My composite of people presents the diverse culture of the city," said the artisan, Larry Roots, of Lincoln. "Socially it has a broad audience."

Workers installing the window screen art, showing visibility with and without the screening. Window strike bird carcasses have been found at two locations within two blocks of this locale.

Roots had numerous issues to consider during 2.5 years preparing "Our Community ... Larger than Life," including street clearance, weight considerations, while maintaining the visibility to the outside for people within the walkway. Meetings were held with community groups to develop the images.

This art was selected from among 50 proposals that were submitted. Roots had been involved with the Stories from Home project, and continued with the subject of people. The skywalk mural is a new genre he said, and "represents the potential for a consortium of visual artists to present additional works." Roots works with Modern Arts Midwest.

The project was sponsored by the City of Lincoln, Downtown Lincoln Association and Lincoln Arts Council. It is within the 12th Street Art Zone.

South side of the finished art mural on the skywalk from Energy Square, 1111 O Street, and the adjacent Center Park Parking Garage to the Magee's Building, 1201 O Street.