Over a thousand migratory birds injured or killed in Chicago building collisions

During a peak migration weekend, more than five million birds traversed Cook County, and at least 1,000 struck the glass of Chicago buildings, many of them fatally. About 25 volunteers from the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors worked from dawn until sunset, gathering carcasses and injured birds, while a dedicated hotline fielded calls roughly every 30 seconds. The dead are being examined by researchers at the Field Museum, and over 250 injured birds were taken to the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center for treatment.

Advocates note that voluntary bird-safe measures have reduced collisions at sites like McCormick Place Lakeside Center after film was applied to its windows. They are now urging the Chicago City Council to adopt a binding ordinance requiring new constructions and major renovations to incorporate bird-friendly glass, following examples set by New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.