CHICAGO (Sept. 27, 2024) — After receiving nearly 50,000 emails from In Defense of Animals supporters, McCormick Place Lakeside Center has taken a crucial step in safeguarding migratory birds by installing bird-safe window film on its iconic glass walls. This renovation addresses the soaring number of bird deaths caused by window collisions at the convention center, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 birds in a single night last fall.

“Windows collisions rank among the deadliest threats to birds,” said Katie Nolan, Wild Animals Campaigns Specialist for In Defense of Animals. “With wild birds in steep decline — over 3 billion lost in the past 50 years — we are delighted that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority has taken a crucial step by installing bird-safe window film at McCormick Place. This sets a new standard for all U.S. buildings to follow. Building managers can save millions by installing bird-safe window film and turning off lights.”

McCormick Place, situated along the Mississippi Flyway — a crucial migration route — has long been a site of concern for bird collisions, particularly during spring and fall migrations. In Defense of Animals and its Interfaith Vegan Coalition witnessed the devastating impact firsthand when attending a conference at McCormick Place in 2023.

“The bird deaths we witnessed at McCormick Place were heartbreaking,” said Lisa Levinson, Campaigns Director for In Defense of Animals. “While a member of our Interfaith Vegan Coalition was able to rescue one injured bird, many more had perished in a single night. We couldn’t be happier that McCormick Place has stepped up to protect these vulnerable birds.”

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which manages McCormick Place, announced the $1.2 million project to install bird-safe film has been completed, covering two football fields’ worth of glass. The newly installed bird-safe window film is a critical part of reducing bird collisions, along with measures such as dimming or turning off lights during peak migration seasons. These actions help protect migratory birds, many of whom face deadly threats from light pollution and reflective windows.

McCormick Place's efforts align with broader city initiatives like Lights Out Chicago, which aims to reduce bird deaths by encouraging buildings to dim their lights during migration periods. The installation of bird-safe window film will go a long way in ensuring that migratory birds continue to travel safely through the city.

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Contact: Katie Nolan, katie@idausa.org, (203) 823-8228

Action Alert: Stop McCormick Place in Chicago From Killing Migratory Birds

Email 1 

To: The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, McCormick Place 

RE: Save Chicago’s Migrating Birds Now

I am writing as one of In Defense of Animals’ 250,000 supporters to respectfully request that you immediately implement more bird-safe measures to prevent bird collisions with windows. I appreciate the steps that have already been taken by McCormick Place to ensure the safety of birds, but much more must be done to avoid mass death events like the recent horrific incident on the night of October 4, 2023. 

Regardless of whether events are occurring, McCormick Place and other buildings in Chicago should still dim their lights, and either ensure that events are planned earlier in the day during bird migration seasons, or that exhibitors agree to lights out at a certain time. McCormick Place must also implement other bird protection strategies as well. 

Birds often mistake the reflections of trees and sky as real and break their fragile bones and necks flying into windows at high speeds. Even birds who seemingly recover and fly away often still succumb to their injuries later. These collisions happen most often during spring and fall migration seasons. 

Luckily, there are many ways to make buildings and windows safe for birds. Dimming or turning out lights are the simplest ways to prevent collisions, and increase energy efficiency too. Other bird-safe building measures include installing tinted or patterned window film, parachute cords, screens, and even simple window decals. If buildings like McCormick Place make simple changes such as these, thousands of bird lives will be saved. Please let me know your plans regarding this issue.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

12,471 In Defense of Animals Supporters

Email 2

To: Brandon Johnson Mayor, Chicago, Illinois; JB Pritzker Governor, Illinois

RE: Save Chicago’s Migrating Birds Now

I am writing as one of In Defense of Animals’ 250,000 supporters to respectfully request that you ensure more bird-safe measures are immediately implemented in Chicago to reduce bird collisions with windows. Lights Out Chicago is an excellent first step, but much more must be done to avoid mass death events like the recent horrific incident where more than 1,000 birds died after colliding with McCormick Place on the night of October 4, 2023. 

Regardless of whether events are occurring, McCormick Place and other buildings in Chicago should still be required to dim and extinguish their lights for the duration of spring and fall migrations. These facilities should also ensure that events are planned earlier in the day during migration seasons, or ensure that exhibitors agree to lights out at a certain time.

Birds often mistake the reflections of trees and sky as real and break their fragile bones and necks flying into windows at high speeds. Even birds who seemingly recover and fly away often still succumb to their injuries later. These collisions happen most often during spring and fall migration seasons from March through June and August through November. 

Chicago sits on the Mississippi Flyway, which is part of a vital migration route for millions of migratory birds traveling from Canada and the northern U.S. to wintering grounds on the Gulf of Mexico and Central and South America in the fall before returning in the spring. 

In 2020, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance that requires all new buildings to be constructed with bird-safe features, but it has yet to be implemented.

Luckily, there are many ways to make buildings and windows safe for birds. Dimming and turning out lights is the simplest way to prevent collisions, and increases energy efficiency too! Other bird-safe building measures include installing tinted and patterned window film, parachute cords, screens, and even simple window decals. If buildings in Chicago make simple changes such as these, thousands of bird lives will be saved. Please let me know your plans.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

12,471 In Defense of Animals Supporters

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California with over 250,000 supporters and an over 41-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, rural Mississippi and central California. www.idausa.org

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