02. Bird-Friendly Design Presentation — original pdf
Backup
N I T S U A F O Y T I C Bird-Friendly Design Resolution Progress and Process Briefing W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 2 Introductions Watershed Protection Department – Environmental Policy • Leslie Lilly • Matt Hollon • Sean Watson • Elizabeth Funk Austin Energy - Austin Energy Green Building • Garrett Jaynes Photo by David Mintz Development Services Department – Building Plans • Farhana Biswas Planning Department – Development • Jordan Feldman Building Services Department – City Architect • Kit Johnson Photo by Arenal Observatory Lodge N I T S U A F O Y T I C W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Agenda 3 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Photo by Richard Granado W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T • The problem • History of Austin’s response • The solution • Objectives and deliverables • Case studies and successes • Questions 4 T h e P r o b l e m Bird Collisions Birds do not perceive glass as a barrier. In daytime, they focus on reflected spaces and transmitted spaces. Bird collisions have both local relevance and enormous impact. In nighttime, they focus on artificial sources of light. Austin is a city of 1,025,668 people in the Central Flyway. Birds fly to these confusing features, without seeing the glass barriers. The collision is deadly. An estimated 1 billion birds die every year. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T N I T S U A F O Y T I C 5 T h e P r o b l e m Bird Collisions N I T S U A F O Y T I C • Affects birds in day hours. • Affects birds at night. • Any bird in an area is impacted (local and migratory) • Motivates collisions with perceived habitat or space Augment each other Combine with inability to see glass and cause collisions. • Migratory birds are impacted. • Disorients and exhausts birds. • Motivates collisions by confusing bird navigation • Affects general biodiversity. Clarification: Size and placement do not stop birds from interacting with glazing. • Small windows • Glazing not near a natural area • Glazing with sparse markings ...can all threaten birds. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 6 City Response Northern cardinal, photo by Howard Cheek N I T S U A F O Y T I C • Lights Out Texas initiative adopted in 2020 - Resolution No. 20210902-050 requires all COA buildings to implement lights out practices during peak migration seasons. • Austin designated as a “Bird City” by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 2023. • Resolution No. 20241121-073 adopted November 2024, instructs the City Manager to explore integration of bird-friendly design practices into city regulations, as well as specific measures to be adopted for new construction. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 7 T h e S o l u t i o n Bird Friendly Design Bird-friendly Building: Determining the arrangement of glazing in a building envelope and making glazing visible to birds through • Patterns • Devices • Glazing As well as a growing variety of techniques. Bird-friendly Lighting: Reduced and redirected lighting practices. N I T S U A F O Y T I C Markings tell birds the space is filled, with no room to fly through. They must be contrasting to the surface and 2" X 2" apart. Consider: • Opacity • Size • Color • Location Fritted Glass (grid pattern) Ultraviolet treated glass Etched Glass (dot pattern) W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T • Objectives 8 N I T S U A F O Y T I C • Facades, covers, and blinds • Insect screens • Lengths of cord • Window decals • Window film • Solar shades • Tape or stick-on dots Avoid indentations and channels, 'fly through' areas. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 9 Account for different conditions throughout the day. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T N I T S U A F O Y T I C Example of patterned glass on Block 185 tower • Etched or fritted glass • Photovoltaics • Interlayer designs • Painted or printed glass • Tint or treatment • Stained glass Treat areas by plants and features (skywalks, railings, balconies). Bird-friendly buildings have benefits outside of their protection of biodiversity: N I T S U A F O Y T I C • Support of biological health and reduced stress from collisions. • Improved energy efficiency and cost savings. • Mediums for stylish design and artistic features. 10 Painted Bunting Mayfly Purple Martin Bird-friendly buildings ultimately support a healthy relationship with our natural surroundings. Texas Toad Mexican Free-Tailed Bat Black and White Warbler Coyote Texas Gray Moth W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 11 Case Study: New York City N I T S U A F O Y T I C • New York City Council passes Local Law 15 in 2019, in effect in 2021. • Mandatory bird-friendly design for new construction resulted in increased market competition, with more options and lower costs for developers. • Package bird-friendly design requirements with existing/emerging sustainable construction practices (LEED), large potential due to Austin’s culture of sustainability and environmental consciousness. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 12 Case Study: Javits Center • • N I T S U A F O Y T I C The original glass center was known for killing 470 birds in 5 years. In 2008, it was rebuilt with a green roof and fritted glass. • Bird collisions decreased by 90% and energy savings increased by 26%. The green roof has hosted more than 51 species and now shelters nesting Herring Gulls. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 13 Process Overview Objectives/Deliverables • Provide specific measures that can be implemented on new construction projects Façade on Austin Central Library serving as a habitat for birds to reduce bird collisions. • Conduct feasibility analysis to project potential cost and timeline changes for developers. • Provide educational material to residential communities to inform homeowners of methods to reduce bird collisions. N I T S U A F O Y T I C W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Photos by Richard Granado Façade on Austin Central Library Façade on Austin Central Library Art installation in Austin Central Library that also functions as bird-collision deterrence Proposed Timeline 14 Start: December 2024 End : December 2025 Winter 2024/2025 Spring 2025 Summer 2025 Fall 2025 Winter 2025 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Project Planning: Dec Engagement Plan Dev April Update MMACs May/June Stakeholder Engagement Staff Recommendation/Analysis Boards and Commissions September Report to Council December STATUS: Completed In Progress Pending W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Media Credit • Abcbirds.org • Cityhomecollective.com • Minnesota's Newest S • NYTimes • Live bird migration maps – BirdCast The Javits Center: Leading from the Rooftops | NYC Bird Alliance Resources/References • Christian C Voigt et.al, The Impact Of Light Pollution On Bats Varies According To Foraging Guild And Habitat Context, BioScience, Volume 71, Issue 10, October 2021, Pages 1103– 1109, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biab087, Accessed June 2025 15 • • • N I T S U A F O Y T I C Pope, Kristen. "New Paper Suggests Light Pollution Limits Bat Habitat." Bat Conservation International, 2024, https://www.batcon.org/new-paper-suggests-light-pollution-limits-bat-habitat/. Accessed June 2025 Anton, Lexie. "Wildlife Is Hurt By Light Pollution." Pennsylvania State University, 2019,https://sites.psu.edu/antoncivicissues/2019/03/28/wildlife-is-hurt-by-light-pollution/. Accessed June 2025 • Daley, Jason. "The Devastating Role of Light Pollution in the 'Insect Apocalypse'." Smithsonian Magazine, 2019,https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/light-pollution-contributes-insect-apocalypse- 180973642/, Accessed June 2025 • Owens ACS, Lewis SM. The impact of artificial light at night on nocturnal insects: A review and synthesis. Ecol Evol. 2018 Oct 23;8(22):11337-11358. doi: 10.1002/ece3.4557. PMID: 30519447; PMCID: PMC6262936., Accessed June 2025 • Opar, Alisa." Minnesota's Newest Sports Stadiums Take Very Different Approaches to Bird Safety." Audubon, 2018,https://www.audubon.org/news/minnesotas-newest-sports-stadiums-take-very-different-approaches- bird-safety. Accessed June 2025. • Meredith Barges, Viveca Morris. "Building Safer Cities for Birds." Yale Bird Friendly Building Initiative, 2023, https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/building_safer_cities_for_birds.pdf. Accessed June 2025. W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 16 We Welcome Questions! Please email Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov Thank You For Your Time! N I T S U A F O Y T I C W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T