Glass that’s For the Birds
A recent study by the American Bird Conservancy, Fordham University, NYC Bird Alliance and Stony Brook University found that building collisions kill over one billion birds annually in the U.S. The issue is how birds see glass. Reflections of trees and sky make glass look like an open space, while its transparency creates the illusion of a clear path, which confuses birds.
The good news is that there are growing bird-friendly regulations and increased glazing options with first-surface markers that help alert birds to the presence of glass.
Experts agree that etching the outer surface of the glass works best to deter bird collisions because it disrupts its reflective quality, eliminating the illusion of open space. This process also breaks the glass's uniform transparency, making it more visible to birds.
BirdSmart® Bird Safe Glass
BirdSmart® Bird Safe Glass by Vitro is a first-surface laser-etched glass with a Solarban® low-e coating on the second surface that achieves both bird-friendly etching and solar performance without impacting visible light transmittance (VLT) or solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).
Manufactured using laser etching, which is a “clean” etching process that is non-caustic and uses no harsh chemicals to apply bird-friendly visual markers, BirdSmart® glass offers a greener way to prevent bird strikes.
BirdSmart® glass is available with four dot patterns with directional and non-directional orientation. It can be applied to clear, Acuity® and Starphire® low-iron glasses by Vitro and paired with Solarban® 65, Solarban® 70 and Solarban® 72 glasses by Vitro on the second surface.
AviProtek® Glass
Vitro partnered with Walker Glass to create AviProtek® glass, uniting bird-safe, acid-etched, first-surface visual patterns by Walker Glass with a high-performance Solarban® solar control low-e coating by Vitro on the second surface. This combination delivers both exceptional energy efficiency and bird safety, with minimal impact on VLT.
AviProtek® glass patterns can be applied as horizontal, vertical or decorative visual markers on the first surface of both clear and Starphire Ultra-Clear® glass substrates by Vitro, and with Solarban® 60 or Solarban® 70 glass on the second surface of an insulating glass unit (IGU).
Keeping Birds and the Environment Safe
Bird-friendly building codes are gaining traction across North America, and for good reasons. Adapting to these evolving regulations not only ensures compliance but also shows a commitment to environmental responsibility. By using bird-friendly etchings with solar control, low-e glass, you can protect birds while also boosting energy efficiency, a win for both nature and sustainability.
Updated on August 6, 2025
