LANE COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY <br />AN OREGON CHAPTER OF THE NATIONALAUDUBON SOCIETY <br />P.O. BOX 5086 • EUGENE, OREGON 97405 <br />www.laneaudubon.org <br />Dear City Councilors, Mayor, and City Manager, <br />I am writing on behalf of the Lane County Audubon Society to urge planners to protect birds that rely on <br />riparian habitat and the flyway provided by the Willamette River. Our members care deeply about habitat for <br />birds and other wildlife and value the riverfront area for bird watching, as well as for the natural beauty and <br />habitat provided. We encourage conservation of as much habitat along the river as possible. We thank you <br />for your consideration of standards that protect habitat and require native plants which support pollinators, <br />birds, and other native species. We urge you to consider the impact of development along the Greenway that <br />causes an increase in bird mortality. Bird -safe building measures have been employed successfully in many <br />cities across the country. Recent analyses have documented that the cost of installing bird -safe glass is <br />miniscule when compared to total building costs. In fact, the public relations associated with the use of bird - <br />friendly glass has been positive for building projects. We are proud that the UO has been responsive to this <br />issue and has utilized bird -safe stippled glass in their most recent building projects (the Knight Center for <br />example) as well as retrofitted problematic buildings. We think that the Willamette River Greenway would <br />benefit from this standard as development proceeds. <br />Building collisions are a leading source of mortality for birds with researchers estimating up to one billion <br />birds killed per year. Although any building provides a potential hazard, they are most concerning when they <br />occur adjacent to migratory corridors such as rivers. Collision mortality is further exacerbated by windows <br />and other glass surfaces found on buildings. Birds do not see glass. Both resident and migratory birds see <br />reflections of vegetation and open spaces in the windows and attempt to fly through until they are stopped by <br />an abrupt and unfortunate collision with a hard surface. There are several bird -friendly solutions to clear <br />glass (see links below.) Permits for buildings adjacent to the Greenway should require incorporation of bird - <br />friendly design. Please integrate this standard of bird -safe -glass for development in the riverfront area. <br />I have taken the liberty of including a few links to information on bird -friendly design. <br />https:Haudubopportland.org/issues/hazards/buildingsibird-friendly-building design -toolkit <br />https:Habcbirds.org_/get-involved/bird-smart-glass/ lg ass/ <br />http://www.otop.org.pl/uploads/media/bird-friendly_ building engl.ndf <br />https:Homithologycenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Report-march-22.pdf (cost analysis) <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment and for your consideration of these issues. <br />Debbie Schlenoff, Ph.D. <br />Conservation Chair, Lane County Audubon Society <br />