San Francisco OKs 'bird-safe' building standard

An ordinance approved, Sept. 20,by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors requires that new buildings in parts of the city use "bird-safe" standards that reduce the risk of winged creatures hitting panes of glass, according to a USA Today report.

Transparent and reflective glass both pose a threat to migratory and local birds, said Christine Sheppard, bird collisions campaign manager for the American Bird Conservancy, to the paper. Marking windows with dots or other designs, or shielding the glass with screens or other architectural devices, can reduce fatal accidents, she told USA Today.

The ordinance will apply to new construction in certain areas considered near bird habitats, including within 300 feet of a two-acre or larger green space or open water, according to the USA Today report.

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