Between 750 million to 1 billion birds are killed in North America each year as a result of collisions with artificial structures.  Several hundred million collisions result from windows in buildings, particularly plate glass and other highly transparent or reflective glass.  Unfortunately birds have not evolved to navigate an environment of transparent glass.

In response to this problem, Golden Gate Bird Alliance joined with San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Alameda city planning staff and other conservation advocates to design and implement standards for bird-safe buildings.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved Standards for Bird-Safer Buildings in September 2011, which were signed into law by Mayor Ed Lee in October 2011. You can read the San Francisco standards here.

The City of Oakland’s planning staff added Bird Safety Measures to their standard building permit requirements in June 2013. You can read about the Oakland measures on our blog or read the measures themselves here.

In 2016 Richmond approved Bird Safe Standards.

In 2018 Alameda approved Bird Safe Building Standards and a Dark Skies ordinance.

Further resources:

2011 KQED Quest podcast and article on bird safe buildings.

2012 Video on Bird-Safe Building Standards by San Francisco filmmaker Matt Baker:

Contact the San Francisco Bird Strike Hotline

Click here to report injured birds found outside of buildings. You can also report by email to safebirds@goldengatebirdalliance.org or by called Golden Gate Bird Alliance at (510) 843-2222 with the following information:

  • Date and time
  • Address including cross streets
  • Location details
  • Species of bird, photograph if possible
  • Male or female, if known
  • Adult or juvenile bird, if known
  • Condition of bird
  • Did you see or hear the collision? If so, please provide a description:
  • Weather
  • Your Phone Number or Email Address:
Please email a photo of the bird and building, if possible. If the bird appears to be injured, call San Francisco Animal Care and Control at (415) 554-9400 and record the date and time of your call.

Donate Now to support our efforts. 

Please submit comments in support of

Bird Safe Buildings.

Bird Safe Building Standards

Golden Gate Bird Alliance, the American Bird Conservancy and the San Francisco Planning Department have proposed Standards for Bird Safe Buildings in San Francisco.  The standards would apply to future buildings or those undergoing major remodels or energy retrofits and there are voluntary guidelines for building owners, managers and others that want to implement changes. 

Below is a message that you should feel free to personalize:

I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed Standards for Bird Safe Buildings in San Francisco.  I am writing as a citizen and as a member of Golden Gate Bird Alliance, which is comprised of San Francisco Bay Area residents dedicated to protecting native birds, other wildlife, and their natural habitats.     

Thank you for considering these innovative standards aimed at  protecting birds in our urban environment.  The standards document describes potential negative impacts on resident and migratory birds, comprising suggested remedies to lessen the urban hazards through treatments for glazing, lighting, and other building design and operation applications.

The standards document proposes the creation of three tiers of review:

1) guidelines to project sponsors about the potential bird hazards

2) requirements for the most hazardous conditions

3) voluntary “bird safe” certification for building owners who choose, on their own accord, to meet the guidelines

Our city is an important part of the Pacific Flyway and birds deserve this practical approach to protection.  San Francisco is and can continue to be a great place to go bird watching.  

 

Sincerely,

 

NOTE:  Public comment is accepted via email to the Commissioners care of the Commission Secretary at linda.avery@sfgov.org and AnMarie.Rodgers@sfgov.org

You can look up the phone, address and email contact information for the San Francisco Planning Commission at http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=7

Read the proposed standards  here and more information is available  here