Mike Wuerthele
After a watchdog agency devoted to tracking bird impacts on Chicago buildings alerted Apple to a possible problem, the new North Michigan Ave. flagship store will dim the lights nightly until the fall migration season ends.
Apple was alerted to the discovery of dead birds around the store by Chicago Bird Collision Monitors volunteers, according to the Chicago Tribune. The group claims that at night, birds become disoriented by lighting, and crash into the large glass panes that make up the store's exterior walls.
Apple spokesman Nick Leahy confirmed the communication with the group, and did acknowedge that there had been strikes. However, Leahy noted that there wasn't a "larger number" than expected.
"At least until we can get through the migratory season," said Leahy. "We will get the lights down as much as can overnight."
Chicago has a "Lights Out" initiative for high-rise buildings. The Apple store is two stories tall, and there are much larger buildings surrounding the store.
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors is an all-volunteer conservation project dedicated to the protection of migratory birds through rescue, advocacy and outreach. The project collaborates with building management, architects, planners and the public to prevent bird collisions.
In a brief interview with NBC affiliate WMAQ, Cook pointed out that Apple opened its first flagship store in Chicago some 14 years ago. The new location, which stands in the shadow of Chicago's iconic Tribune Tower, is a place where people can connect, he said.
"Some stores are for selling — actually almost all stores are for selling," Cook said. "It's actually a small part of what we do in our store. Our stores are about service, supporting customers, being a place where customers can discover and explore our products, and education. And connecting. A place where people can connect."
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17 Comments
To any ornithologist: how do dimming of lights reduce the risk that migratory birds will strike the side of buildings? It seems counterintuitive. The reason buildings and other tall structures are lit at night (either entirely or with those flashing red marker lights) is so aircraft won't hit them.
Not an ornithologist either, but I think Apple should be credited to try to do the right thing, even if it makes any different or not. First of all, I assume none of those migratory birds are flying at that low of an altitude the Apple Store is at compared to the surrounding Chicago skyline. From what I recall, I think that stupid a$$ Trump Tower right down the corner is probably a much bigger problem for those migratory birds consider how anti-environment he is. Please leave Apple out.