Glassy PLG Tower Bad News for Birds, Says Expert
Scores of migrating birds would smash into the glassy 23-story tower planned in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, on Lincoln Road and Flatbush Avenues, creating a mess on the crowded sidewalks below, said Prospect Park Audubon Center senior naturalist Gabriel Willow. He said adjacent Prospect Park, at 585 acres, is a popular resting place for birds along the…
Scores of migrating birds would smash into the glassy 23-story tower planned in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, on Lincoln Road and Flatbush Avenues, creating a mess on the crowded sidewalks below, said Prospect Park Audubon Center senior naturalist Gabriel Willow. He said adjacent Prospect Park, at 585 acres, is a popular resting place for birds along the Atlantic Flyway, and added that glass towers in Manhattan near smaller, less popular parks have been the death of hundreds of birds a year. “You’ll just find the ground littered with birds,” he said. Tom Gilman of Gilman Architects didn’t respond when asked if his design took migrating birds into consideration (the flock was added to the rendering). Meanwhile, developer Henry Herbst said he’s been busy polling the community about their preference for the ground floor retail compenent—so far, they’re leaning toward a bank and organic market, even though the short block already has two non-organic markets. Herbst said, “They claim there’s no organic foods in the area,” which is basically true. Cage-free hens, anyone?
Wings Meet Deadly Glass [NY Times]
Form Follows Feathers: Bird-Friendly Architecture [Architectural Record]
Lefferts Gardens Gets a Few New Arrivals [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
BrooklynLove: Why don’t you try looking something up before you disregard something as idiocy because it doesn’t immediately make sense to you. That’s idiocy. There are even helpful links in the posting so you don’t have to do the Google search yourself. You see an article from the Architectural Record that says “Bird-Friendly Architecture,” and a bird expert is saying glass towers are a problem, yet because it doesn’t make sense right away to YOU, it’s idiocy. Are you a jack of all trades?
If a pelican hits you in this building, it probably means the ice caps have melted and Prospect Park is an ocean front park. Then you would have really killer views.
What about an etched pattern on the glass. It also might make the interior space feel more intimate and private too. Less a fishbowl. You could still see the views but there’s be a screened effect.
Again, a lot of either/or thinking in these comments. It IS possible to tweak the design a little to minimize the impact on the birds AND have the building get built very close to it’s original form. If the architect can do it, then why not?
Except that reflective glass looks like sky and trees to birds. It’s just as bad as transparent glass.
this is absolute complete idiocy. reflective glass = opaque surface during daylight hours. this person needs to move to the catskills yesterday.
I once had a pet bird as a child and he LOVED seeing his reflection in the mirror. Maybe these birds will learn to be a little more vain?
I mean, they are in NYC afterall…
I really like this building and think it’s nice having a contrast like this in the area. I bet the apartments will be beautiful and the views even better (notwithstanding the close-ups some unfortunate wayward birds might experience).
Why don’t the birds just fly over Park Slope instead.
Isn’t it less dangerous and prettier there anyway??
😉