Bird collisions with buildings result in the deaths of over one billion birds each year in the U.S. To address the issue of bird collisions, advocacy groups, standards organizations and product manufacturers are collaborating with states, cities and municipalities.
In North America, a growing number of states and provinces have introduced bird-friendly building codes to protect avian populations from the risks posed by modern architecture. These include California, Illinois, Ontario, Oregon, Minnesota, Washington D.C., Virginia, Wisconsin, Alberta, British Columbia, Maryland and Maine. These regulations often require the use of bird-safe materials like specially designed glass or treatments that reduce reflections, which can confuse birds and lead to collisions.
In addition to these existing codes, many other regions are actively proposing legislation to mandate bird-friendly practices in new construction and renovations. The goal is to minimize the environmental impact of urban development and create safer spaces for bird species, especially during migration seasons when the risk of collisions increases.
On a national level, the Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act represents a significant step toward broader implementation of these practices. If passed, it would require federal buildings across the U.S. to incorporate bird-friendly materials and designs, setting a precedent for other sectors to follow.
Additionally, several sustainable building rating systems now recognize and reward bird-friendly designs. For instance, the U.S. Green Building Council’s latest LEED® v5 includes a credit under the Sustainable Sites Biodiverse Habitat category for projects that incorporate bird-friendly glass.
Bird-friendly glass is designed with visual markers to help prevent bird collisions. Experts recommend these visual markers be on the first surface (exterior) to maximize glass visibility to birds. Guidelines from advocacy groups, along with emerging local regulations, outline the recommended types, spacing and placement of these markers. They also specify where bird-friendly glass should be implemented on buildings to maximize its effectiveness.
One of the most common guidelines in North American bird-friendly standards is the “2" x 4" rule.” Research shows that most birds will not attempt to fly through spaces less than 2 inches high and 4 inches wide. Research indicates that applying patterns that adhere to the 2x4 rule can significantly reduce bird strikes. Some recommendations suggest using the even more stringent 2" x 2" rule.
As awareness of bird collisions has grown, glass manufacturers have broadened their offerings in recent years, introducing bird-friendly solutions that balance bird safety, energy efficiency and aesthetics.
For example, Vitro introduced BirdSmart® Bird Safe Glass, 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).
Vitro also collaborates with Walker Glass to produce AviProtek® glass, which features first-surface acid-etched visual patterns by Walker Glass with a high-performance Solarban® solar control low-e coating by Vitro on the second surface, delivering both exceptional energy efficiency and bird safety, with minimal impact on VLT.
Driven by code requirements, green building programs, and voluntary bird-safe standards, more building owners are requesting architects to incorporate bird-safe glass into their designs. With an expanding range of design options and growing legislative backing, bird-safe glass could eventually become a federally mandated standard for all new construction projects. This movement reflects a rising awareness of the importance of balancing human development with wildlife conservation.