U.S. Agencies Urged to Make Federal Buildings Safer for Migratory Birds

The Biden administration recently announced $104 million in funding to upgrade windows, install solar panels and otherwise improve energy efficiency at 31 federal facilities. 

More funding may be forthcoming for other federal buildings. But the initiative fails to consider the dangers these facilities present for migratory birds, even though many — like Baltimore’s Social Security Administration Supply Building — have large glass facades that pose a risk for deadly bird collisions.

Bird mortality surveys have not been conducted at the 31 facilities, but many other federal buildings are known to kill birds. Some of the most lethal buildings for birds include the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Center in Washington, D.C., and several buildings at the Chicago Federal Center.

As acknowledged by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, over the past 50 years the population of North American birds has declined by an estimated 3 billion birds. Many of the 1,093 species of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are experiencing population declines because of increased threats across the landscape.

As many as 1 billion birds per year are killed in collisions with building glass, studies estimate.

State and federal agencies have failed to take adequate steps to avoid, minimize and mitigate this ongoing threat. In December the Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew much-needed draft migratory bird protection rules that it promised years ago. These rules are necessary to protect migratory birds from being killed by preventable hazards, including by window collisions. This leaves billions of birds vulnerable to dying in collisions with windows and communication towers.

Nearly 15,000 people have recently written to Service’s director, Martha Williams, requesting rules for buildings to protect migratory birds.