Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
The birds are dying. Every year, millions of migratory birds collide with glass buildings around the world, suffering injury and often death. The most recent estimate by the American Bird Conservancy puts the number at up to a billion. But why do they crash into these structures? And what can we do to prevent it?
One of the main reasons is that glass buildings reflect artificial light, which confuses and disorients the birds. At night, when they are flying southwards to their wintering grounds, they may mistake the lights for stars or other landmarks. They may also be attracted by reflections of their own wings or tails.
Another reason is that glass buildings have sharp edges and corners that contrast with the natural shapes of birds. These features make them more visible and easier targets for collisions. As Antoni Gaudí once quipped: “There are no straight lines or sharp corners in nature.”
These solutions show that architecture can play an important role in protecting wildlife from human-made hazards. By designing buildings that blend in with nature and respect its rhythms, we can create safer places for both humans and animals.
