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Tuesday, November 01, 2022
Bird-friendly glass is a highlight of a renovation at the National Aviary
90.5 WESA: With its three-story-high ceilings, greenhouse-like glass walls, and flock of bright-pink flamingos, the Wetlands habitat is perhaps the most memorable room in the National Aviary.
I was unaware that there was a National Aviary in Pittsburgh. I have been to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens before, but I had no idea there was a National Aviary. This museum seems very cool and bird friendly, especially now with their new $3 million renovation. I have often found that “window strikes' ' from birds is common, especially in Northern Virginia where I live. I have always been intrigued to find a way to prevent this from happening, and costing the birds their lives. This bird-friendly glass that is now in the National Aviary is interesting as it has etches in its glass that allow the birds to see the texture so they don't fly into it. Not only will this keep the rare birds inside safe, but it will also help prevent birds from the outside from flying into this building. I am intrigued with this design of glass and want to learn more, as I don’t see why all windows around cities can have this design so that less birds die from “window strikes”. Not only that, but this light helps filter in and out sunlight, which would help make city buildings more environmentally friendly and safe for all organisms.
Windows may not be the first thing we think of when it comes to huge renovation budgets, but it makes sense for a place like the National Aviary to focus a lot on something like that. Certainly we have all seen a cartoon where a bird flies into a window and then falls to the ground with a splat. I wish that this article made more of a point to describe how the windows work because that is a piece of technology that alludes me, but it sounds like a pleasant environment with maximized UV and natural light and a warmed habitat. I have yet to go down to the National Aviary personally, but I have been outside while it was under renovation and it did seem quite extensive. I look forward to getting over there when I have the time to see some of these Wetland birds and check out those windows.
This is really interesting. I had of course heard the statistic about window strikes killing thousands of birds a year, but I had no idea that number was in the hundred millions. That is an even more concerning statistic coming from the National Aviary. I am so glad that they have come up with a kind of glass that prevents these injuries to the beautiful birds inside and out of the Aviary. I would be so interested to learn more about how this glass prevents those window strikes though. They mention briefly in this article that it is because of an acid-etched design suggesting undulating reeds, but I have no idea what that really means. I would love an article about how that is done and the reasoning behind why it tells the birds not to fly into it. I may have to go to the National Aviary for that explanation, but I have no problem with that.
I find this article so interesting. I love birds so much and averys bring me so much joy now and as a kid. I found it really interesting that they came up with a glass that would be safe for the birds and better to not kill them. I did not know that the old glass hurt the birds. I think it is really ethical and smart for them to put money toward a renovation to help the birds rather than benefit the public audience. I also like how they were environmentally friendly when doing this renovation. The use of eco-friendly materials is really smart for these big areas and buildings. I definitely want to check this place out and find out more about glass technology. I wish the article explained how it worked more. I am so excited to go and visit in the next few weeks when I have time!
I have got to say, I am not a big fan of birds. Ever since a bird pooed on me in the first grade I have been wary around birds especially when they are flying around while being over my head. It is cool how they have made a type of glass that is easier for birds to see though. It will be interesting to see if this type of stuff is either going to be or is currently being used in the building of skyscrapers, especially since taller and taller buildings are being built all the time in big cities and more and more birds are flying into said buildings because they are not used to the buildings being there. So, if this glass is being used in buildings like that then great and if not then why is it not being used? Also, why would it not be used in skyscrapers and how can we make them better for that use.
This is so cool. I have fond memories of visiting aviaries with my mom and sister when we lived out west as a kids, and have been so wanting to find time to visit the national aviary here it Pittsburgh. It makes me so happy to know that their safety is being considered to the level of safer glass. I do wonder if this glass is new, ad how often it has been used so far. I’m not particularly educated on bird-friendly glass but I hope that these is, or becomes the main practice throughout all aviaries. The fact that glass kills so many birds is truly frightening, and I’ve actually seen bird fly into glass. It’s heartbreaking, and I’m glad efforts are being made to prevent it.
Heck yea, a win for the birds. To echo another commenter, I didn’t know that Pittsburgh had a National Aviary, but it’s very cool that it does! I didn’t know how many birds died via window strike every year, and I’m glad that they have developed glass that works to solve the issue. It’s also really interesting how the glass is designed to maximize UV light and natural light, as well as be more visible to the birds. The budget for this renovation was pretty good, and I’d be interested to see what the specifics of what it went into other than the glass ended up being. I’m sure for an aviary it’s very unique and interesting. 20,000 square feet of window alone is such a large number of glass panes! I’m glad that they were able to implement this change - and I’m sure it’ll benefit the birds for years to come.
7 comments:
I was unaware that there was a National Aviary in Pittsburgh. I have been to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens before, but I had no idea there was a National Aviary. This museum seems very cool and bird friendly, especially now with their new $3 million renovation. I have often found that “window strikes' ' from birds is common, especially in Northern Virginia where I live. I have always been intrigued to find a way to prevent this from happening, and costing the birds their lives. This bird-friendly glass that is now in the National Aviary is interesting as it has etches in its glass that allow the birds to see the texture so they don't fly into it. Not only will this keep the rare birds inside safe, but it will also help prevent birds from the outside from flying into this building. I am intrigued with this design of glass and want to learn more, as I don’t see why all windows around cities can have this design so that less birds die from “window strikes”. Not only that, but this light helps filter in and out sunlight, which would help make city buildings more environmentally friendly and safe for all organisms.
Windows may not be the first thing we think of when it comes to huge renovation budgets, but it makes sense for a place like the National Aviary to focus a lot on something like that. Certainly we have all seen a cartoon where a bird flies into a window and then falls to the ground with a splat. I wish that this article made more of a point to describe how the windows work because that is a piece of technology that alludes me, but it sounds like a pleasant environment with maximized UV and natural light and a warmed habitat. I have yet to go down to the National Aviary personally, but I have been outside while it was under renovation and it did seem quite extensive. I look forward to getting over there when I have the time to see some of these Wetland birds and check out those windows.
This is really interesting. I had of course heard the statistic about window strikes killing thousands of birds a year, but I had no idea that number was in the hundred millions. That is an even more concerning statistic coming from the National Aviary. I am so glad that they have come up with a kind of glass that prevents these injuries to the beautiful birds inside and out of the Aviary. I would be so interested to learn more about how this glass prevents those window strikes though. They mention briefly in this article that it is because of an acid-etched design suggesting undulating reeds, but I have no idea what that really means. I would love an article about how that is done and the reasoning behind why it tells the birds not to fly into it. I may have to go to the National Aviary for that explanation, but I have no problem with that.
I find this article so interesting. I love birds so much and averys bring me so much joy now and as a kid. I found it really interesting that they came up with a glass that would be safe for the birds and better to not kill them. I did not know that the old glass hurt the birds. I think it is really ethical and smart for them to put money toward a renovation to help the birds rather than benefit the public audience. I also like how they were environmentally friendly when doing this renovation. The use of eco-friendly materials is really smart for these big areas and buildings. I definitely want to check this place out and find out more about glass technology. I wish the article explained how it worked more. I am so excited to go and visit in the next few weeks when I have time!
I have got to say, I am not a big fan of birds. Ever since a bird pooed on me in the first grade I have been wary around birds especially when they are flying around while being over my head. It is cool how they have made a type of glass that is easier for birds to see though. It will be interesting to see if this type of stuff is either going to be or is currently being used in the building of skyscrapers, especially since taller and taller buildings are being built all the time in big cities and more and more birds are flying into said buildings because they are not used to the buildings being there. So, if this glass is being used in buildings like that then great and if not then why is it not being used? Also, why would it not be used in skyscrapers and how can we make them better for that use.
This is so cool. I have fond memories of visiting aviaries with my mom and sister when we lived out west as a kids, and have been so wanting to find time to visit the national aviary here it Pittsburgh. It makes me so happy to know that their safety is being considered to the level of safer glass. I do wonder if this glass is new, ad how often it has been used so far. I’m not particularly educated on bird-friendly glass but I hope that these is, or becomes the main practice throughout all aviaries. The fact that glass kills so many birds is truly frightening, and I’ve actually seen bird fly into glass. It’s heartbreaking, and I’m glad efforts are being made to prevent it.
Heck yea, a win for the birds. To echo another commenter, I didn’t know that Pittsburgh had a National Aviary, but it’s very cool that it does! I didn’t know how many birds died via window strike every year, and I’m glad that they have developed glass that works to solve the issue. It’s also really interesting how the glass is designed to maximize UV light and natural light, as well as be more visible to the birds. The budget for this renovation was pretty good, and I’d be interested to see what the specifics of what it went into other than the glass ended up being. I’m sure for an aviary it’s very unique and interesting. 20,000 square feet of window alone is such a large number of glass panes! I’m glad that they were able to implement this change - and I’m sure it’ll benefit the birds for years to come.
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