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EAC’s Dark Sky initiative to engage businesses on bird‑collision mitigation before fall migration
Summary
The council reported meetings with the Erie Bird Conservancy and plans to convene businesses and institutions with high bird‑collision rates, to seek design and operational fixes before fall migration and to solicit technical help from Cornell and vendor cost estimates for mitigation.
Members of the Environmental Advisory Council’s Dark Sky initiative reported progress coordinating with the Erie Bird Conservancy and city planning staff to reduce bird collisions with glass in the downtown area.
Council members said they have met with Holly (identified as representing the Erie Bird Conservancy) and with Cooper Moore, assistant planner, to plan targeted outreach to buildings with the highest recorded bird collisions. The group cited the conservancy’s collision inventory map and described plans for a late‑summer meeting to engage business and institutional leaders before fall migration.
The group is looking for technical assistance and examples of successful programs; they said Holly will contact Cornell University researchers who have presented Lights Out programs and may be able to advise on outreach strategies and technical measures. Members also said they want to provide practical mitigation options by contacting vendors to get cost estimates for window treatments and other remediation measures so businesses can evaluate feasible fixes.
Staff reported a related inventory of downtown signage and an effort to identify signage designs that comply with zoning while reducing collision risk. The council emphasized early engagement with developers and institutions — including talking with building teams during permitting or design phases — so collision mitigation can be considered before construction is finished.
No formal motion or ordinance was adopted; the initiative will continue targeted outreach, technical consultation and vendor cost‑gathering over the summer.
