A few years back , the Javits Center underwent a $463 million renovation to make the building more energy efficient. Within that task, the architects and engineers were also able to tackle the big issue that came along with the structure’s reflective glass appearance: it has become the deadliest spot for birds in Manhattan.
The Birds Don’t Perceive Reflective Glass as We Do
When flying birds encounter reflective glass, they see the mirrored images in the glass rather than the structure itself. They assume there is a clear flying path in front of them and then crash into the glass while attempting to fly through it.
- Fact: Between 365 and 988 million birds die in the U.S. each year because they crash into buildings.
A Change in Materials Makes All the Difference
Rather than using reflective glass, architects and designers can switch to using fritted glass. The design of fritted glass isn’t visible to humans until they’re very close to it, but it is visible to birds from farther differences, so they can notice it and avoid that flightpath. Buildings can also use low-glare lighting to avoid attracting birds during migration season.
Several Buildings are Already Taking Action
- The Javits Center: The renovations included fritted glass.
- Fact: Almost no birds have died in that area now.
- The University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum of History and Planetarium: They added fritted glass as well as bird-friendly landscaping to encourage birds to stick around, not just fly by.
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