20260805-002, Update on Bird-Friendly Design Resolution — original pdf

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Bird Friendly Design Update to Council Resolution No. 20241121-073 Austin Watershed Protection | August 5, 2026 Context ▪ Investigating Bird Window Collisions following City Council Resolution No. 20241121-073 ▪ Objectives from January 2026 Memorandum ▪ Residential Outreach Program ▪ Data Collection ▪ Green Building Policy Green Heron (credit: Jupiterimages/ Getty Images) 2 Intern Data ▪ Process ▪ Consulted Lights Out Texas Volunteer and Data Collection Protocol Coordination ▪ Systematically searched for dead or stunned birds, then photographing evidence ▪ Interns collected data during and after the close of migration season ▪ Walks occurred midday (after many bird strikes were already picked up) Poster of "Lights Out Texas Data Collection & Volunteer Protocol" (credit: Audubon Texas) Dead sparrow with ruler (credit: H. Sederholm) 3 Intern Data ▪ Results ▪ Found evidence of over 30 bird strikes in the span of six weeks ▪ Timing of data collection underscores greater number and distribution of bird strikes Spreadsheet recording the conditions, images, and locations of dead birds (credit: L. Rerecich and H. Sederholm) 4 Intern Data ▪ Process ▪ Route located in the South Central Waterfront ▪ Includes all faces of the building with windows and accessible to surveyors Map of survey route throughout the South Central Waterfront (credit: H. Sederholm) 5 Intern Data ▪ Cooperating with Building Services ▪ Meeting with building managers ▪ Creating data collection methods Digital form for collecting data on bird strikes, in Spanish Digital form for collecting data on bird strikes, in English 6 Downtown Austin Alliance Data ▪ Downtown Austin Alliance is a local nonprofit with a mission to "create, preserve and enhance the vibe, vitality and value of Downtown Austin for everyone." ▪ Conducts myriad projects, direct services, and research ▪ Regularly encounters and records bird fatalities in downtown Image of downtown Austin's skyline (credit: Wirestock/ Getty Images) 7 Downtown Austin Alliance Data ▪ They have recorded 446 collisions this year alone ▪ Indicates large impact of collisions Map of bird strike fatalities in July (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) Dead white-winged dove (credit: H. Sederholm) 8 Downtown Austin Alliance Data Map of bird strike fatalities in January (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) Map of bird strike fatalities in February (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) Map of bird strike fatalities in March (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) Map of bird strike fatalities in April (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) Map of bird strike fatalities in May (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) Map of bird strike fatalities in June (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) Map of bird strike fatalities in July (credit: Downtown Austin Alliance) 9 Residential Outreach Campaign ▪ Posters or Infographics Poster on FAQs of Bird-friendly design (credit: City of Austin) Poster discussing protecting bird populations (credit: City of Austin) Poster explaining Bird-friendly home choices (credit: City of Austin) Poster showing Bird-friendly strategies (credit: City of Austin) 1 0 Residential Outreach Campaign ▪ Social Media Social media post on value of birds (credit: City of Austin) Social media post on bird window collisions (credit: City of Austin) Social media post on bird-friendly methods (credit: City of Austin) Social media post on reducing light pollution (credit: City of Austin) 1 1 Residential Outreach Campaign ▪ Presentation ▪ Full-scale and short versions Slideshow title: "Bird Window Collisions" (credit: City of Austin) Slide providing resources about bird-friendly design (credit: City of Austin) Slide explaining the costs of bird window collisions (credit: City of Austin) 1 2 Residential Outreach Campaign ▪ Questionnaire Public form assessing community awareness and views on bird-friendly design (credit: City of Austin) 1 3 Residential Outreach Campaign ▪ Current areas for outreach: ▪ Local neighborhood associations ▪ Local environmental groups ▪ City of Austin libraries ▪ Public trailheads ▪ Social media Summer Tanager eating at a bird feeder (credit: L. Rerecich) 1 4 Thank You! Painted Bunting singing in a tree (credit: Dr. Lawley-Rerecich)