BEAUTIFUL GARDEN – SAFER GARDEN
A Success Story for Bird Safety

Chicago Botanic Garden Regenstein Center. The long window on the left shows the clear reflection of sky and trees before the window was treated. This is very typical of the type of reflection that birds mistake for a continuation of the outdoors. The window on the right has the temporary circular shading solution. After both windows were fully treated, the bird collisions declined dramatically and immediately.  Photo by Joan Vatz.

This spring the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) led the way in finding solutions for the dangerous hazards posed by transparent or reflective glass to migratory birds. The CBG, located at 1000 North Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Illinois, is 385 acres of gardens and woods and is an important and quite lovely stopover for thousands of migrating birds each spring and fall. The variety of habitats, the plantings, fountains, ponds and pools, attract approximately 225 species of birds and provide a welcome source of food, water and shelter for weary and hungry migrants. Unfortunately, the glass windows of buildings within the gardens can pose risks to visiting birds and, therefore, as with any home or office, birds may be harmed as they try to fly into the windows that give a false impression of trees or sky.

According to Kris Jarantoski, the Executive Vice President and Director of the Chicago Botanic Garden, it was Joan Vatz of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors who first drew their attention to the number of bird fatalities and injuries occurring at the CBG’s Regenstein Center. Joan educated the staff to the ways birds respond to window reflections and inspired CBG to take important measures to make their buildings more “bird-friendly.” Jarantoski said, “Since we are attracting birds, we feel it is our business to protect them. Birds are an important part of the Chicago Botanic Garden. They give added benefit to the gardens and are an active part of the environment with their movements and songs.”

After reviewing a number of options, CBG decided to reduce the reflections and transparency of their windows by using a shading compound, which is a paint that is applied to greenhouse windows to protect interior plants from intense sunlight. Armed with shading compound and sponges, volunteers from all departments joined in to paint closely-spaced circles to cover as much glass surface as possible on the windows of the Regenstein Center and the Rice Plant Resource Center, including its connecting passage to the Horticulture Building. The results of this effort can be seen in the accompanying photo. The painted circles created a “dappled” look that was a very effective deterrent to bird strikes. Visually, the circles jumped out at the viewer, invoking an “Oh, my gosh! What is that?” reaction from CBG board members and visitors. Jarantoski reported that everyone who was informed of the reasons for the window paint were very supportive of all efforts to make the buildings safer for birds.

The treated windows became a great educational tool to inform the public about the Chicago Botanic Garden’s dedication to bird safety, as well as to plant life. Signs have been posted explaining the project, and public awareness has been raised about this very important conservation effort. Visitors will be influenced to think about ways that windows could be made safer at their homes and offices. At the end of spring migration, the temporary application of painted circles was removed from the windows, and the CBG intends to expand their bird safety efforts to more buildings this coming fall. They will consider a variety of window modification possibilities, which include different types of paint, netting, banners, decals, and static cling materials.

Kris Jarantoski’s advice to other building owners who wish to look into introducing bird safety measures is to contact an informed group such as the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors who can then review the possible on-site window hazards and the range of prevention options available. Buildings that implement collision prevention strategies “will be surprised at the positive reactions that result when you are doing something good for the birds,” Jarantoski was pleased to report. “The staff, the board, and the visitors were happy – and we are sure that the birds were happy!”

For more information about materials available to block window reflections and reduce glass transparency, please refer to the Chicago Audubon Society’s May/June issue of the Compass newsletter by going to our website, www.chicagoaudubon.org. If you would like more printed copies of that issue, please call the Chicago Audubon office at 773/539-6793. Further valuable information is also available at: www.flap.org, www.birdmonitors.net; and www.birdsandbuildings.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is to be highly commended for their commitment to finding ways of making the journey safer for migratory birds.

Editor