U.S. Bank stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings football team, could have been an example of a large building with bird-safe glass. It isn't.
The new Bell Museum of Natural History on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus, scheduled to open in mid-July, is that building.
Bird-safe means the glass contains elements that makes the pane visible as something other than background reflection. This is intended to deter birds from flying into the glass.
Birds that collide with windows often suffer death or injuries that later prove fatal. Broken bones and concussions are common in collisions. Internal injuries occur, becoming fatal days later. Injured birds also are susceptible to predation.
The problem of bird/glass safety was discussed here at a meeting in
April. Dr. Christine Sheppard, Bird Collisions Campaign manager for American Bird Conservancy, spoke to an audience at Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park.
She talked about the stadium and how its expansive glass areas might be retro-fitted to deter bird collisions. It could be done outside or inside, she said.
She said that 3M is working on a "promising" window treatment product. The issue is marketing, she said. The cost of development and production requires sufficient demand.
Jerry Bahls, president of the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis, said he believes possibility of a solution remains. He sees pressure on the Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission, which oversees stadium issues.
