The San Francisco Planning Dept has recently adopted ‘Standards for Bird Safe Buildings’, which can be downloaded at the following URL:
http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=2506
The newly adopted Standards for Bird-Safe Buildings explains the documented risks that structures present to birds. Over thirty years of research has proven the risk to be “biologically significant” for certain bird species. Recent studies have determined that annual bird fatalities in North America from window collisions may be as high as 1 billion birds per year or 1-5% of all birds. While the facts are staggering, the solutions are within reach. The majority of these deaths are foreseeable and avoidable. The document summarizes proven successful remedies such as window treatments, lighting design, and lighting operation. The document proposes a three-pronged approach to the problem:
-- establishment of requirements for the most hazardous conditions;
-- use of an educational checklist to educate project sponsors and their future tenants on potential hazards; and
-- creation and expansion of voluntary programs to encourage more bird-safe practices including acknowledging those who pursue certification through a proposed new program for “bird-safe building” recognition.
