Over 1,000 Migratory Birds Die After Colliding With Chicago Skyscrapers

More than 1,000 migratory birds died over the weekend after striking buildings in Chicago, bird safety advocates reported. The city, situated along a major migratory route, experiences a significant influx of birds, with over five million estimated to have flown through on Friday alone, according to data from Cornell Lab Bird Cast.

Volunteers with Chicago Bird Collision Monitors were active throughout Saturday, collecting injured and deceased birds in the downtown area and at Northwestern University's Evanston campus. Annette Prince, the organization's director, described the scene as overwhelming, with volunteers responding to calls about birds hitting glass windows. "We had birds hitting the glass windows over our heads," Prince told the Chicago Sun-Times.

The non-profit organization monitors and assists migratory birds during their spring and fall journeys, typically from mid-March to early June and late August to mid-November. Volunteers respond to reports from the public via a hotline.

Volunteers collected over 1,000 birds, many of which were taken to the Field Museum for research. Prince indicated that the actual number of casualties could be higher, as not all injured or deceased birds are reported. Survivors were transported to the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center for treatment; the team assisted over 250 birds on Saturday.

Prince emphasized the heartbreaking nature of the situation and stated that these birds need protection. "The least we can do is give them safe passage through our area," she said.

This incident has intensified calls for improved building regulations to enhance bird safety. Advocates are urging the city council to adopt an ordinance requiring new constructions to incorporate bird-friendly features, such as textured glass that birds can recognize as a solid barrier. An initial attempt to pass such an ordinance a decade ago was unsuccessful, though it did raise awareness about the dangers of glass for birds.

Robyn Detterline, advocacy chair for the Chicago Ornithological Society and a member of Bird Friendly Chicago, confirmed that multiple organizations are working diligently to protect migratory birds. "We're not anti-development, but we want the development to be sustainable," Detterline stated. "We also think people deserve to live in homes that don’t kill birds."

A newly drafted ordinance has been sent to the Zoning Committee, though the timeline for a vote remains uncertain. Advocates remain committed to the cause, aiming for the city to balance development with wildlife preservation.