A major bird strike event occurred in Chicago, Illinois, last week, killing nearly 1,000 migrating birds, the highest number on record. During the evening and morning of October 4-5, the birds died after crashing into the McCormick Place Lakeside Center during the height of their annual fall migration.
The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is calling for the management of McCormick Place to act now to prevent future bird collision tragedies, and for the Chicago City Council to fully implement the birdhouses ordinance of the city.
Weather patterns played a role, but even before this unfortunate event, reflective glass building walls and bright lights were known to be a problem. ABC partners with the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Willowbrook Wildlife Center in full force, rescuing as many live birds as possible.
Conservationists have long raised concerns about McCormick Place as a danger to birds because of its position along the lakefront of Lake Michigan where many birds travel. Although not a tall structure, the building is mostly made of glass that has not been treated with products recommended by ABC to prevent bird collisions. Solutions are available, but building management and the city of Chicago have yet to act.
Northern Waterthrush, copyright Glyn Sellors, from surfbirds galleries
In 2020, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance requiring all new buildings to be designed with bird-safe features. This remains to be implemented as the city completes a larger sustainability plan for the new development.
This is one of the busiest times of the year for Black-throated Blue Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-throated Sparrows and dozens of other migratory bird species that pass through Chicago on their way south for the winter. Glass collisions result in the massive loss of up to 1 billion birds each year in the United States. It’s a conservation crisis that the ABC is focusing on.
The American Bird Conservancy ran a Public Service Announcement in the Chicago Tribune print edition on October 11, 2023 to draw attention to the tragic bird event that occurred and the general threat of collisions. See full image (PDF).
Most people might think that birds can survive and fly away immediately after a collision. However, birds often suffer invisible serious injuries such as bruises, eye ulcers, and fractures that prevent them from continuing their journeys. The good news is, people can help. With the loss of nearly 3 billion birds in the US and Canada since 1970, ABC encourages the following solutions to help birds survive and thrive:
- Tell your legislators to support the Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act. Take action now.
- Find out what other simple actions you can take to prevent bird collisions at home and in your community.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Willowbrook Wildlife Center, Chicago Bird Collision Monitor, and other groups and individuals who rescued and provided vital care for the hundreds of injured birds that survived the McCormick Place mass-collision event .
