Beijing Glass Walls Endanger Migrating Birds
Wednesday, September 30, 2026116 words2 minutes2380 reads
In September, a birdwatcher in Beijing found a tiny Arctic warbler dead beside an office building in Wangjing. She was excited to see this bird for the first time, but sad that it had died.
The birds probably hit the buildings’ large glass walls. Glass can reflect trees, clouds, or blue sky. Birds may think the reflection is a real place to fly. Clear glass can also show plants on the other side, so a bird may try to pass through. The bird is not careless; glass walls are new in nature’s long history. Close patterns across the outside of glass can help birds see a barrier. One large sticker may leave too much open space.
