Standards for Bird Safe Buildings
Approximately 750 million to 1 billion birds are killed in North America each year as a result of collisions with artificial structures. Several hundred million collisions result from windows in buildings, particularly plate glass and other highly transparent or reflective glass. Unfortunately birds have not evolved to navigate an environment of transparent glass.
In response to this problem, Golden Gate Audubon, concerned civic leaders, and non-governmental organizations have partnered to design and implement the Standards for Bird Safe Buildings program in San Francisco.
Goals:
- Protect, restore and enhance urban and suburban habitats for birds
- Reduce hazards to birds
- Educate and engage citizens in monitoring, caring about and advocating for birds and their conservation
- Foster youth environmental education with a focus on wildlife
- Manage invasive species to benefit and protect birds
- Increase awareness of the value of migratory birds and their habitats, especially for their intrinsic, ecological, recreational and economic significance
Hear or read the 2011 KQED Quest podcast and article on bird safe buildings here.
Contact the San Francisco Bird Strike Hotline
Click here to report injured birds found outside of buildings. You can also report by email to safebirds@goldengateaudubon.org or by calling Golden Gate Audubon Society at (510) 843-6551 with the following information:
- Date:
- Time:
- Address including cross streets:
- Location details:
- Species of bird, if known:
- Male or female, if known:
- Adult or juvenile bird, if known:
- Condition of bird:
- Did you see or hear the collision? If so, please provide a description:
- Weather:
- Your Phone Number or Email Address:
Please email a photo of the bird and building, if possible. If the bird appears to be injured, call
San Francisco Animal Care and Control at (415) 554-9400 and record the date and time you called.