Supporters — Bird Friendly Chicago

“I design buildings for a living. I don’t want them to be the second largest killer of birds after cats.”

Jeanne Gang, founding partner of Studio Gang, an international architecture and urban design practice with offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Paris. All Studio Gang projects use bird-safe design practices.

Declaration of Support for a Chicago Bird-Friendly Building Ordinance

Millions of birds migrate through Chicago twice a year every year. Birds have followed the natural corridor of Lake Michigan for thousands of years because it provides valuable habitat for resting and feeding during their long migratory journeys. Most small songbirds migrate at night, and research has shown that urban lighting draws birds into the city.

Once in the city, birds do not recognize glass as a hazard. Instead of a solid barrier, they see an open corridor, or a reflected tree or sky. As buildings use more glass, more of the birds that make it to our city don’t make it out. For tens of thousands of birds every year, their long, difficult migratory journey ends at a Chicago window.

Bird friendly glass products and thoughtful architectural design can reduce bird collisions with windows. New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Evanston and Skokie have enacted bird-friendly building ordinances that save birds’ lives.

Chicago has a proud history of innovation in both architecture and bird safety. Our city launched the first “Lights Out” program in the country, to reduce bird mortality by reducing nighttime building lighting.

It’s time for Chicago to have a Bird-friendly Building Ordinance.

Supporting Scientists

George Archibald, PhD
Co-Founder and Senior Conservationist
International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI

Bethany Barratt, PhD
Professor of Political Science
Roosevelt University, Chicago

John Bates, PhD
Associate Curator, Birds
The Field Museum, Chicago

Richard Beilfuss, PhD
President and CEO
International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI

Andrew Farnsworth, PhD
Research Associate
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY

John W. Fitzpatrick, PhD
Executive Director Emeritus
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY

Todd Katz
Science Teacher
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago

Reuben Keller, PhD
Professor of Environmental Science
Loyola University Chicago

Daniel Klem, Jr., PhD, DSc
Professor of Biology, and Sarkis Acopian Professor of Ornithology and Conservation Biology
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA

Richard Lariviere, PhD
President
The Field Museum, Chicago

Bryan Lenz, PhD
Bird Glass Collision Campaign Manager
American Bird Conservancy, Milwaukee, WI

John P. Leonard, PhD
Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences
University of Illinois at Chicago

Michael Mesure
Executive Director
Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) Canada, Toronto

Debra Moskovits, PhD
Vice President, Strategic Science Initiatives
The Field Museum, Chicago

Carter O'Brien
Sustainability Officer
The Field Museum, Chicago

Matthew Reetz, PhD
Executive Director
Badgerland Bird Alliance, Madison, WI

Dr. Sarah Richardson
Adjunct Professor
DePaul University

Rafael Rosa
Executive Director
Lincoln Park Conservancy

John Rowden, PhD
Director of Community Conservation and Bird-Friendly Communities National Audubon Society, Los Angeles, CA

Christine Sheppard, PhD
Director, Glass Collisions Program
American Bird Conservancy, Washington, DC

Jeff Walk, PhD
Illinois Director of Conservation
The Nature Conservancy, Toulon, IL