Green buildings kill birds

by Gene on Nov. 28th, 2007

Many environmentally friendly buildings use solar panels to generate power and large windows for natural light. However, these reflective or transparent materials are deadly to migrating birds which crash into them and die. In Georgia, professor John Wegner has convinced Emory University to cover its new math and science center with netting during the migrating season to protect the birds.

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Anonymous says:

This is an argument that you will hear as reasons why not to have solar panels, wind turbines and the likes. But if you really worry about the numbers of migratory birds, then you should look at the numbers of birds, migratory and otherwise, killed anually by feral and/or "outdoor" cats. It is in the millions. You can check the National Audubon(spelling?) Society and the American Bird Conservancy websites for more information. Outdoor cats also have more diseases and parasites than indoor cats and have longer life spans. So keep your cat indoors, and you can save the migratory birds and your cats health at the same time. Then we'll talk about those pesky shiny things.

posted on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 8:48pm

Gene says:

Precisely. Once we get the cat problem under control (and my two cats are kept indoors, and allowed out only in enclosures), then we can start with the solar panels and wind turbines and the rest. But until then, we are losing too many migratory birds and can't afford to lose any more.

(I think you meant to say that indoor cats have a longer life.)

posted on Thu, 12/06/2007 - 1:26am

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