Bird collisions: A pressing issue illuminated
BirdCast, a seasonal tool tracking bird migrations, recorded a staggering one billion birds migrating on a single October night in 2023. Yet, a grim event on October 5 cast a shadow over this natural wonder—nearly 1,000 birds perished after colliding with McCormick Place Lakeside Center in Chicago.
This vast convention center, with its windowed walls mirroring the serene Lake Michigan shoreline, tragically became a death trap. Birds mistook reflections in the glass for open sky, leading to fatal impacts. The aftermath was startling, yet out of this tragedy, artist Holly Greenberg found inspiration to act.
Art as activism: Holly Greenberg’s initiative
Greenberg, an assistant professor on sabbatical, was struck by the scale of avian collisions after hearing about the mass tragedy. Prompted by this, she launched the “Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene” project in 2024. Collaborating with the Chicago Field Museum and ornithologist Dave Willard, she aimed to reproduce 10,863 bird figures—the estimated number found dead in Chicago in 2023 alone.
The project, according to Greenberg, is not just about awareness but action. Bird-safe window treatments by companies like Feather Friendly could prevent countless deaths. Their clear dots, nearly invisible to humans, help birds differentiate between reflections and real sky.
Community engagement through creativity
Greenberg’s initiative is as much about community as it is artistry. Workshops across North America invite participants to craft birds from fabric, creating a collaborative tapestry of activism. Over 140 workshops have taken place in libraries and schools, with more being planned. The hands-on nature of these workshops fosters a deep connection to the cause, teaching participants about both craft and conservation.
Through the collective effort of fabricating these avian forms, Greenberg hopes to catalyze change at the policy level. Evanston, a suburb of Chicago, has instituted bird-friendly building ordinances, a model Greenberg and other advocates push to see replicated across cities.
A tapestry of purpose at the Chicago Architecture Center
The project’s next major showcase will be at the Chicago Architecture Center’s “Flyway City” exhibition, running from June 11 to January 3, 2027. Organized by Studio Gang and led by architect Jeanne Gang, the exhibition addresses how architectural design can mitigate bird deaths. Greenberg envisions her art as part of a broader movement, crafting not only a memorial but a call to action.
Stay informed on this ongoing effort by following Greenberg’s updates and future workshops, fostering collective action for bird-safe urban environments. Consider how innovative architectural design can contribute to such efforts.
Sources & Links
- Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
- downloaded
- Evanston Made
- experiential learning
- Taro Takizawa
- Alice Hargrave
- building codes
Source: thisiscolossal.com