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proposed bill in New York City aims to reduce bird collisions with glass windows by requiring large buildings to retrofit their windows with bird-friendly materials by 2030. This mandate could be costly for building owners, who would need to comply with the new regulations despite existing exemptions for older buildings. The bill is an expansion of a previous law that only applied to newly constructed or altered buildings.

    The city estimates that around 250,000 birds are killed annually due to collisions with glass windows in New York City. To address this issue, the proposal would require building owners to use bird-safe materials on existing structures, which could be a significant challenge given the cost and complexity of implementing such measures.

    Some buildings have already taken steps to reduce bird collisions, such as installing dot stickers on windows or updating glass and railings. However, these solutions can be costly and may not be effective in preventing all bird deaths. Advocates for birds are exploring alternative solutions, but so far, treatments applied to the inside of windows have not been successful.

    Industry groups, like the Real Estate Board of New York, have expressed skepticism about the proposal's feasibility and potential impact on building owners. They argue that compliance could lead to significant delays in construction and increased expenses for property owners. The extra cost of using bird-friendly materials can range from 3 percent to 50 percent more than traditional glass, depending on the type of material used.