October has not been kind to birds migrating through Chicago

But do so many birds typically hit buildings here during their lengthy travels in the spring and fall?

Unfortunately yes. Chicago is a hazardous city for migrating birds. Volunteers from Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) pick up around 10,000 deceased birds annually around Chicagoland, with the number likely much higher because most collision deaths go unreported. These macabre encounters between bird and glass affect over 200 species.

Photo of Fox Sparrow who hit transparent glass by Arun Barua

To fight these needless fatalities, multiple ornithological organizations are working with Chicago alders to pass a bird-friendly ordinance. In summary, the ordinance asks newly constructed buildings to

Limit transparent or reflective glass in the building design
Move plantings away from transparent or reflective glass that are attracting birds and causing them to collide into windows
Reduce the amount of interior and exterior lighting
Add bird-friendly window deterrents

Please visit the Bird Friendly Chicago website for more details about the ordinance.

As of today, alders who have agreed to sponsor or co-sponsor the ordinance are

Filing Sponsor(s)

Hadden, Maria E. (49)

Sponsor(s)

Hopkins, Brian (02)
Cruz, Ruth (30)

Co-Sponsor(s)

La Spata, Daniel (01)
Ramirez, Julia M. (12)
Mosley, Ronnie L. (21)
Rodriguez, Michael D. (22)
Sigcho-Lopez, Byron (25)
Fuentes, Jessica L. (26)
Taliaferro, Chris (29)
Cardona, Jr., Felix (31)
Waguespack, Scott (32)
Rodriguez Sanchez, Rossana (33)
Quezada, Anthony J. (35)
Vasquez, Jr., Andre (40)
Reilly, Brendan (42)
Knudsen, Timothy R. (43)
Lawson, Bennett R. (44)
Clay, Angela (46)
Martin, Matthew J. (47)
Manaa-Hoppenworth, Leni (48)

Visit the Chicago Collisions Coalition website for more details on how you can speak up for birds. Reach out to your alderperson if they have not yet co-sponsored the bill, and thank them if they have! If you want to know what ward you live in, the city of Chicago provides ward details.

On a personal level, you can treat windows at home as well. Multiple outlets sell stick-on deterrents that you can apply to windows at your place of residence, such as Feather Friendly, which McCormick Place used to retrofit its windows. Check out CBCM or the American Bird Conservancy for more product suggestions.

And for future Halloweens - and maybe even today - try adding some fun holiday decorations and drawings to your windows to make it obvious there’s a barrier there.