A Wildlife Article from All-Creatures.org

North America's Largest Convention Center Installs Life-Saving Bird-Safe Window Film

From IDA In Defense of Animals
October 2024

This renovation addresses the soaring number of bird deaths caused by window collisions at the convention center, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 birds in a single night last fall.

Yellow Warbler, Shutterstock and McCormick Place Lakeside Center Bird-safe Windows

After receiving nearly 50,000 emails from In Defense of Animals supporters, McCormick Place Lakeside Center has taken a crucial step in safeguarding migratory birds by installing bird-safe window film on its iconic glass walls. This renovation addresses the soaring number of bird deaths caused by window collisions at the convention center, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 birds in a single night last fall.

Windows collisions rank among the deadliest threats to birds. With wild birds in steep decline—over 3 billion lost in the past 50 years — we are delighted that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority has taken a crucial step by installing bird-safe window film at McCormick Place. This sets a new standard for all U.S. buildings to follow. Building managers can help save millions of birds from horrific deaths by installing bird-safe window film and turning off lights.

McCormick Place, situated along the Mississippi Flyway—a crucial migration route—has long been a site of concern for bird collisions, particularly during spring and fall migrations. In Defense of Animals and its Interfaith Vegan Coalition witnessed the devastating impact firsthand when attending a conference at McCormick Place in 2023.

"The bird deaths we witnessed at McCormick Place were heartbreaking. While a member of our Interfaith Vegan Coalition was able to rescue one injured bird, many more had perished in a single night. We couldn’t be happier that McCormick Place has stepped up to protect these vulnerable birds."
~ Lisa Levinson, Campaigns Director for In Defense of Animals

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which manages McCormick Place, announced the $1.2 million project to install bird-safe film has been completed, covering two football fields’ worth of glass. The newly installed bird-safe window film is a critical part of reducing bird collisions, along with measures such as dimming or turning off lights during peak migration seasons. These actions help protect migratory birds, many of whom face deadly threats from light pollution and reflective windows.

McCormick Place's efforts align with broader city initiatives like Lights Out Chicago, which aims to reduce bird deaths by encouraging buildings to dim their lights during migration periods. The installation of bird-safe window film will go a long way in ensuring that migratory birds continue to travel safely through the city. 

---

Posted on All-Creatures.org: October 5, 2024
Return to Wildlife Articles
Read more at Legislation/Policy Articles