New Illinois Legislation Helps Support Birds and Darker Skies
James R. Thompson Center, Chicago, Illinois
Every year nearly one billion birds collide with glass in the United States. Birds don’t see glass as a barrier and will sometimes fly into it when it is showing reflections of natural surroundings or when interior lights or landscaping can be seen through it. There are simple measures that can be taken to make buildings and other structures safer for birds, such as using less glass, using frosted or patterned glass, adding decals or screens on the outside of glass, and reducing the amount of lighting visible to birds at night (e.g., by turning off unneeded lights and using blinds or shades to block interior light from escaping outside). According to a study published in 2019, Chicago was ranked as the most dangerous city for migratory birds during both the fall and spring migrations. Some efforts, such as the Lights Out Chicago program, have been made to help mitigate this issue. Some recently enacted state legislation should help to aid the effort further.
On July 23, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed the Illinois Bird Safe Buildings Act (HB 247), which requires that “Each State building constructed, acquired, or of which more than 50% of the façade is substantially altered” shall meet specified bird-safe design standards. The bill was introduced by Rep. Bob Morgan (D-IL58) on January 25, 2021, and goes into effect on January 1, 2022. Some of the highlights include:
1. At least 90% of the exposed façade material from ground level to 40 feet:
(A) shall not be composed of glass; or
(B) shall be composed of glass employing” certain indicated types of design elements that help prevent bird collisions (such as screens or exterior shades, patterned or frosted glass, etc.).
2. At least 60% of the exposed façade material above 40 feet shall meet the standard described above.
3. “The Director shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each State building”.
4. “Outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized subject to security and other mission related requirements”.
Of course, the last point above is especially near and dear to our IDA Chicago hearts and sets an important precedent for follow-on lighting legislation in Illinois. In fact, the enactment of the Illinois Bird Safe Buildings Act might hopefully help propel the passage of a proposed municipal ordinance for bird-safe structure design in Chicago, the Bird Friendly Design (BFD) Ordinance (O2019-320), which is currently making its way through Chicago’s City Council.