Glass is a favored building material for modern architecture, yet it is also very dangerous for wild birds.

Glass is a favored building material for modern architecture, yet it is also very dangerous for wild birds.

The reading and listening discussed about three ways used to protect birds from being injured by glass. However, the professor disagrees with the writer’s solutions and listed their errors.

First, replacing the clear glass with one-way glass seems to be a good approach, because people can see from inside and outsiders can not see in. Nevertheless, the professor points out that the one-way glass isn’t that effective. The outside surface of the glass will be very reflective like mirrors. Birds can neither figure out what is glass or mirrors. When birds see the sky and trees reflected by the one-way glass, they will simply regard them as true natural things. It is unimaginable that the bad result caused by birds still flying right into the glass.

Second, coloring the glass or windows also has its problems. The opening of the window which people used to look out is easy be assumed like holes for birds. Birds perceive them as holes and then will try to fly right through them. The only way to prevent it from happening is to draw more designs on glass that can leave the openings narrow enough. Guess what? Now the birds will not fly to the glass, but people in the building have to stay in dark rooms without much sunlight, which is unpractical.

Third, it is true that birds use magnetic compasses inside their bodies to navigate. However, the listening material claims that birds will use magnetic sensors frequently only during long-distance flying. Such as in the cold season, birds have to migrate to some warmer countries. On the contrary, flying for short distances, birds will use their eyes and light to help to locate different places. That’s why those electromagnets will not do much help in directing the birds in cities.