Thank you for publishing the Associated Press story about 1,000 migrating songbirds killed in sooner or later in Chicago by flying into the home windows of an exhibition corridor (Oct. 10.) What occurred in Chicago on that morning was an absolute tragedy. It has highlighted the issue of bird-glass strikes, estimated to kill as much as one billion birds annually on this nation.
Migratory birds die right here in Portland, too. I volunteer with a gaggle known as BirdSafe Maine, a partnership between Maine Audubon, the Portland Society for Architecture and USM which screens the streets of Portland for useless or injured birds throughout spring and fall migration. We’ve discovered a whole lot of people and dozens of various species. We discover them extra typically at buildings with a big quantities of glass, which tips birds by reflecting open sky or vegetation.
Reducing the quantity of reflective glass they encounter is the easiest way to maintain birds alive. To assist, BirdSafe Maine has drafted an ordinance based mostly on related measures in New York City and Washington D.C. (notably, not Chicago) that may require chicken protected structure for brand new industrial buildings in Portland. Builders might choose from quite a lot of specifically designed bird-safe glass merchandise, or just use smaller home windows or these protected by screens, mullions, or different choices. Many buildings in Portland are already bird-safe with out even attempting. If we add to their ranks, we’ll keep away from Chicago-like incidences in Portland perpetually.
Jill Osgood
Portland
Invalid username/password.
Please test your electronic mail to verify and full your registration.
Use the shape under to reset your password. When you’ve got submitted your account electronic mail, we are going to ship an electronic mail with a reset code.