Collision Baltimore Oriole. Downtown Chicago, May 7, 2025. Photo by Robyn Detterline.

words by Kris Hansen

Bird lovers flocked to the hearing about the need for a bird-friendly design ordinance in Chicago on July 23, as evidenced when nearly all the spectators at the Committee in Environmental Protection and Energy meeting rose to indicate their support. Chicago currently ranks as the deadliest city for birds in the USA, with 5,000 to 9,000 birds documented to be killed or injured in downtown alone every year, although the true number can be estimated to be 10 times the number that are found.

At the hearing, Bird Friendly Chicago, of which COS is a member, along with national and regional bird experts and advocates provided policy recommendations. More than 80 people provided written comments before the meeting, and 12 members of the public, including myself, spoke about the importance and urgency of drafting, introducing and passing an ordinance. Three members of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) talked about their individual experiences collecting dead birds, especially during migration.

Annette Prince, president of CBCM and chair of Bird Friendly Chicago, spoke eloquently about how the birds winging north in the spring were the healthiest members of their species. Losing those birds as they near their breeding grounds was akin to shooting the lead runners in the Chicago Marathon as they neared the finish line.

While the Chicago Department of Planning and Development (PDP) was praised for adding bird-friendly design elements to the options that developers can select to meet their sustainability goals, less than half of developers voluntarily incorporated those elements. This means that half of new buildings do not use those elements, creating collision hazards that will last for decades if not centuries. Multiple speakers said that this is why bird-friendly design must be required.

The representatives from PDP and the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA), a trade association, expressed concern about the cost of incorporating bird-friendly design, especially since building occupancy is low and construction costs have increased. However, representatives of Skyline, a Chicago-based company that manufactures a variety of bird-friendly glass used across the nation, testified that the cost increase is usually around 1% of the total glass cost if it is incorporated at the beginning of the project.

This statement was reinforced by renowned architect Jeanne Gang, founding partner of the award-winning firm Studio Gang. She testified that her firm always incorporates bird-friendly design in all of its projects, including those created for area healthcare facilities, university, and park district buildings.

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

A representative of the American Bird Conservancy testified about national efforts to incorporate bird-friendly design, ranging from New York City to Evanston, Skokie and Highland Park in Chicago. Its website includes legislation, ordinances and city codes from across the USA that Chicago can use to create its own ordinance.

Representatives from Loyola University in Chicago explained how new projects at Loyola incorporate bird-friendly design.

Fifteen aldermen attended the meeting. Aldermen Ruth Cruz (30th Ward), Bennett Lawson (44th Ward) and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th Ward) spoke at the end of the presentation. They asked insightful questions and appeared supportive of creating an ordinance. Judy Pollock of the Chicago Bird Alliance characterized it as “a very professional and informative meeting” and said she and other coalition members feel good about prospects for the ordinance.

At the conclusion of the hearing, chairwoman Maria Hadden, alderman for the 49th Ward, recapped the testimony. She will continue conversations about drafting and introducing an ordinance.

What can you do?

Now is the time to keep the momentum going. You can:

Contact your alderman. Tell them you support drafting of and passage of a bird-friendly design ordinance. Ask if they attended the hearing. If yes, thank them for doing so. If not, encourage them to watch the recording of the meeting.
Contact the office of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and tell them you support drafting of and passage of a bird-friendly design ordinance.
Finally, encourage your friends and neighbors to participate. Share this post on social media. We can make a difference for birds in Chicago!

Recap and More Actions: Bird-friendly Chicago