Austin sits in the middle of North America’s Central Flyway, one of the continent’s most important migration routes for birds. Every year millions of birds pass through Central Texas. Unfortunately, modern buildings pose a major threat to these travelers. Glass windows reflect sky and trees, making them appear like open habitat, while bright nighttime lighting disorients migrating birds. As a result, building collisions kill an estimated one billion birds each year in the United States.

To address this issue, the Austin City Council adopted Resolution 20241121-073 in November 2024 directing city staff to explore how bird-friendly design could be incorporated into Austin’s building regulations. The Watershed Protection Department completed a detailed study describing practical design solutions—such as patterned or fritted glass that birds can see, shielded outdoor lighting, and reduced nighttime lighting during migration seasons.

These approaches are already widely used elsewhere. More than forty cities and municipalities across North America—including New York City, Madison, Toronto, and San Francisco—have adopted bird-friendly building standards for new construction at a range of price points. Such measures protect wildlife while also reducing energy use and light pollution.

Although Austin’s staff study is complete, progress toward drafting a city ordinance has recently stalled. Supporters of bird-friendly design believe the city should continue moving forward so that Austin’s rapid development can better coexist with the wildlife that makes our region special.

Residents who would like to see Austin advance this effort can help by contacting their City Council member and asking about the status of the bird-friendly building ordinance and whether they support moving the proposal forward.

With Austin growing quickly, decisions made today will shape the city’s environment for decades. Bird-friendly design is one practical way to ensure that Austin remains a place where both people—and birds—can thrive.

March 14, 2026
Travis Audubon Society,
Maura Powers, Chair
Advocacy Committee

How You Can Help

1. Sign the petition to let City Council know that you support bird-friendly building design in Austin.
2. Submit any bird collision observations you encounter – whether it’s at home, work, or your weekend errands, it only takes a few minutes and gets us one step closer to making Austin a more bird-friendly community.