FRITTED GLASS

When the New York State Parks Department recently re-built the Niagara Falls observation tower, both the staff and public participants in the design process specified eliminating bird collisions as a primary goal. Extensive research was done before selecting a fritted coating that achieves a balance between aesthetic and environmental sensitivities.
 

View from inside the building.

Close-up from the outside shows non-reflective surface.

Exterior lights, which attract birds, were eliminated; interior lights are low level.

Windows WITH PATTERNS

This office building features a dotted pattern throughout the ground floor lobby. The dots are successful in presenting a visible barrier for both the large interior plants and the close-in trees outside the building. Note the significant difference in the reflection in the undotted doors in the bottom right photo.

However, the dots do not deter the reflection of the sky, an equally serious problem. This is because the dots are on the inside of the glass; the flat glass exterior provides the perfect reflection of the sky.

WINDOWS WITH PATTERNS

Any pattern can be used - dots, lines, stars, triangles, cartoon characters, company logos, the Gettysburg Address. The key is the broad coverage. Note that the varied characters on this window have been used to create a design.