Bird flying and its reflection in a building

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THE PROBLEM: The bird sees the sky reflected in the glass.

Birds flying through cities face many dangers: speeding cars, hungry cats, and—most deadly of all—high-rise buildings. In the United States alone, more than 365 million birds die each year from flying into glass. They see the reflection of the sky, not a dangerous obstacle. Now, buildings around the world are taking steps to help birds.

At New York City’s Javits Center, workers updated the window glass so it’s less reflective. In Lyon, France, protective screens wrap around a building called the Orange Cube. Humans can easily see through these screens, but birds don’t see a reflection on the other side.