Bird-Safe Glass Working Group Executive Summary
3/21/06
Vision:
We imagine a world where glass windows do not kill birds, and where bird-safety is an integral part of the definition of a “green” building.
Mission:
It is the goal of the Bird Safe Glass Working Group to promote the research and development of a cost-effective, readily acceptable, universal bird-safe glass product that will retain the aesthetic quality of transparency to the human eye, but which will be visible to birds, thus minimizing or eliminating bird impacts.
The Problem:
In a relatively short period of time, dating from the end of the Second World War when large expanses of glass were first widely manufactured and used in construction, glass has transformed the appearance of our cities, towns and countryside. Glass serves as an essential component of the building industry for commercial, government, educational and residential structures throughout the world. Glass has turned out to be one of the world’s great bird killers because birds can not recognize clear or reflective panes of glass as barriers to be avoided. Unfortunately, there is no universally acceptable, bird-safe window material that has been developed to reduce the hazards posed by glass.
Some strategies to mitigate the problems presented by the reflectivity and transparency of glass windows include retrofitting or modifying them to create visual “noise” by applying decals, screening, films and ceramic frit patterns, or by sandblasting the surface of the glass. Some of these changes compromise the aesthetic and practical value of clear glass. Moreover, there is considerable complexity, risk and expense in applying these materials or altering glass surfaces on high rise structures, making it currently unfeasible to attempt on a large scale. Few of these interventions guarantee long term success. For example, some applied adhesives are incompatible, over time, with new glass coating technologies, while some exterior films may have to be replaced every 5 or 10 years. Also, the thermal stress of altered glass surfaces when heated non-uniformly by the sun may cause breakage. Simply stated, none of these approaches is completely adequate to solve the existing problem. However, the Bird-Safe Glass Working Group will encourage exploration of all existing retrofit solutions until such time as a new glass product is manufactured and available.
Solution
The Working Group is founded upon the premise that the only long-term, permanent solution to the massive mortality faced by migratory birds due to collisions with glass is the development of a new type of glass that is visible to birds but not to people. Its members are committed to urgently achieving this goal.
Composition of the Working Group:
The Bird-Safe Glass Working Group is composed of the following four member organizations:
· Birds and Buildings Forum, Chicago, Illinois
· Fatal Light
Attraction Program (FLAP), Toronto,
· The Humane
Society of the
· NYC Audubon, New York, New York
The following individuals are advisors to the Working Group:
· Hillary Brown, AIA, Principal, New Civic Works, NY NY
· Bruce Fowle, FAIA, LEED, Principal, FX Fowle Architects, NY NY
· Daniel Klem, Jr. PhD., Professor of Biology, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa.
· Albert M. Manville, PhD., Wildlife Biologist, Division of Migratory Bird Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, Va.
· Kate Orff, landscape architect, SCAPE; Assistant Professor Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, NY NY
· Marilyn Patti, Tom Patti Studios, Pittsfield, Ma.
· Tom Patti, Tom Patti Studios, Pittsfield, Ma.
· Dan Piselli, architect, FXFowle Architects, NY NY
Committees:
The Bird-Safe Glass Working Group has the expertise and commitment to move rapidly toward the achievement of its mission. It only lacks the resources to do so. The following four committees have been formed within the Working Group to implement the goal of creating a bird-safe glass product, and expanding the demand for it.
Fund Development Committee: formed to identify and pursue funding opportunities for the research and development needed to create a prototype glass product.
Chair, E.J. McAdams, Executive Director, NYC Audubon
ACTION STEPS
1. Develop/formalize mission statement and concise talking points
2. Draft a general funding package for presentations
3. Pursue foundation grants
4. Pursue National Science Foundation grant
Product Development Committee: formed to create standards and direct resources for product development.
Chair, Bruce Fowle, FAIA, LEED, Principal, FXFowle Architects
ACTION STEPS
1. Create and design presentation format of standards/criteria.
2. Acquire seed money.
Science Committee: formed to identify and centralize scientific information relevant to the project.
Chair, Yigal Gelb, Program Director, NYC Audubon
ACTION STEPS
1. Define and develop a clearing house for current science on birds and glass.
2. Build an online database that enables people to read scientific abstracts and articles on collisions.
3. Expand membership of science committee.
Communications Committee, formed to develop a communication strategy to create clients for bird-safe glass; to promote adoption of guidelines; and to direct clients to products that are available now.
Co-Chairs, John Hadidian, The Humane Society of the
ACTION STEPS
1. Create a video with initial goal of raising funds for project.
2. Develop a place name for the website where the video will available.
3. Design a logo
Please contact Karen Cotton, Coordinator of the Bird-Safe Glass Working Group at NYC Audubon, if you would like to join a Committee.
email: kcotton@nycaudubon.org
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