Around 300 square meters of walls across the University of Białystok campus in Poland have undergone a protective transformation using a specialized UV film. This innovative measure aims to mitigate bird collisions with glass surfaces. The collaborative effort between the university and partners such as the Polish Glass Traps Foundation, the Austrian organization BirdShades, and a local construction company made this pioneering initiative possible.

In contemporary architecture, the prevalence of glass walls, expansive windows, and reflective decorative elements poses a significant hazard to birds. Dr. Krzysztof Deoniziak from the University of Białystok's Faculty of Biology explains that birds perceive glass differently from humans. They may mistake their reflections for rivals or misinterpret shaded areas as safe havens, leading to collisions.

Professor Robert Ciborowski, the university's rector, acknowledges that the initial architectural design of the campus did not consider this threat to avian safety. Recognizing the need to harmonize with nature while preserving the aesthetic vision, the challenge was to find a solution that balances protection with artistic intent.

Conventional protective films often have visible patterns that are not entirely effective. Ornithologists have observed that dense patterns are required for effectiveness, regardless of their design. The ideal solution came from BirdShades, an Austrian organization specializing in bird protection, whose transparent film contains a UV-visible pattern that birds can perceive as obstacles.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Glass Traps Foundation, stands out for its scale, as few projects in Poland and Europe have tackled the challenge of protecting large glass surfaces using UV film. The partners emphasize the importance of raising awareness about bird collisions with glass and promoting preventive measures to mitigate this issue on a broader scale. 
 

The University Campus website:

https://25.uwb.edu.pl/kula_w_kampusie_uwb/

Bird warning films:
https://www.birdshades.com/
https://jestemnaptak.pl/jak-pomoc-ptakom/szyby-i-ptaki-niewidzialne-zagrozenie/
https://swiat-szkla.pl/article/17348-2021-03-05-21-48-10
https://szklanepulapki.pl/sklep/
 

Direct SGDs: 

• Life on land (SDG 15)

Indirect SDGs: 

• Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9)
• Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11)
• Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17)

Justification:

• SDG 15. Eco-friendly building and planning solutions that fit into the land's ecosystem. Protection of wild animals – birds.
• SDG 9. Scientific places with high-tech environmentally friendly solutions.
• SDG 11. Making sure city areas have smart architectural and planning solutions that follow nature protection rules is a good move.
• SDG 17. Universities collaborate with outside partners to work on eco-friendly actions and solutions, like partnering with NGOs and businesses making glass films to prevent bird crashes. 

1. How can we incorporate sustainable development and nature conservation principles into building design?
2. What measures can be taken to avoid bird collisions with solid transparent surfaces such as windows or noise barriers? 
    

Placing buildings in environmentally significant areas, such as the forest near the reserve where the University Campus in Białystok is situated, is often a topic of contention. While it may offer educational benefits, it also exerts stress on the ecosystem it occupies. This stress occurs both during construction, involving activities like tree removal, habitat disturbance, and heavy transport, and during ongoing use, including transportation of staff and students, noise, light pollution, and the heat island effect. 

Piotr Znaniecki