1,000 Birds Hit Chicago Glass in One Weekend. A Stalled Bill Would Make New Glass Bird-Safe, Film Included.
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On the weekend of October 17 and 18, 2026, volunteers with Chicago Bird Collision Monitors picked up more than 1,000 birds, dead or injured, under buildings in downtown Chicago and on Northwestern University's Evanston campus. Bird groups used the toll to push a city bill that would make new glass bird-friendly, and it counts window film. The bill has sat in committee since July.
Ald. Maria Hadden's ordinance, introduced March 18, 2026, covers new buildings, big renovations, and skyways, glass corners and bus shelters on any project. Glass qualifies with permanent markers, patterns or films on its outside surface at the Conservancy's spacing; the text is silent on interior film. Houses, small apartment buildings and landmarks are exempt.
Film has done this before, in Chicago
In October 2023, about 1,000 birds died in one night at McCormick Place's Lakeside Center. The next summer, dotted film went on its 120,000 square feet of glass, and the Field Museum counted collisions down more than 95% that fall. The dots cover 6% to 8% of the glass. The dots are small; the birds notice anyway.
Where the bill stands
A July 15, 2026 council vote moved it from the Rules Committee to the Zoning Committee, which hasn't held a hearing. Supporters say the wording is being revised, so the numbers above could change. It has 21 sponsors on a 50-member council; a 2019 version failed.
If you own a house in Chicago, nothing changes. If you run a larger building, it reaches existing glass only when you renovate. For installers, exterior bird-safe film is real retrofit work. We'll update this post if the bill moves.
Sources
- Chicago City Clerk: O2026-0024083, Bird-Friendly Building Design (introduced March 18, 2026; discharged and re-referred July 15, 2026; sponsors)
- Ordinance text as introduced (PDF): definitions and requirements, sections 13-150-020 and 13-150-030; exceptions, 13-150-040; start date, Section 2
- FOX 32 Chicago: More than 1,000 birds injured or killed in Chicago-area building collisions over weekend (October 19, 2026): the count, the Rules Committee, the revision
- Block Club Chicago: Deadly weekend for migrating birds prompts calls for new Chicago building ordinance (October 20, 2026)
- WBEZ / Chicago Sun-Times: bird collisions down at McCormick Place after film (January 9, 2025): Feather Friendly's film, 120,000 square feet, the Field Museum's count
- Chicago City Clerk: O2019-5575, Bird Friendly Design Ordinance (introduced July 24, 2019; failed to pass May 25, 2023)
