Austin, TX
Bird-friendly buildings: Austin looking at improving designs, codes
![Bird-friendly buildings: Austin looking at improving designs, codes Bird-friendly buildings: Austin looking at improving designs, codes](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox7austin.com/www.fox7austin.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1280/720/66EAB93A3559756E2A997AD3DD9F5EC5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Austin looking into bird-safe building codes
Austin is seen as an environmentally-friendly city, but the building code doesn’t necessarily reflect that when it comes to the safety of birds. FOX 7 Austin’s Emma Bowen intern Kevin Vu has the story about how Austin is working on changing that.
AUSTIN, Texas – Birding is a popular hobby for many Texans.
In Central Texas, you can spot birds exclusively seen in this region of Texas, such as the Carolina Chickadee and the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. However, many bird enthusiasts are concerned over future bird populations’ safety, and it’s not just from predators, but buildings.
Texas is home to three of the top ten deadliest cities for birds — Houston, Dallas and San Antonio — according to a 2019 Cornell study.
While Austin was designated a “Bird City” in 2023 by Texas Parks and Wildlife and Audubon Texas for the city’s bird-friendly initiatives, Austin has not implemented any bird-friendly building design codes.
Common Yellowthroat. Photo by Jason Garcia.
For the local bird conservation group Travis Audubon Society, they believe it’s important to have these designs, as Austin is at the heart of the North American Central Flyway — the migration pathway for hundreds of species of birds passing through Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana — especially since nearly one billion birds collide with glass in the United States every year.
“Since we are located in the Central Flyway where there are so many birds traveling through while they migrate, it’s important that we adopt more bird-friendly practices and friendly building designs,” said Caley Zuzula, program manager for the Travis Audubon Society. “So, when they do come into the city, they aren’t so likely to become victims to a building collision or some other sort of urban threat.”
How does glass impact birds?
Heidi Trudell, a consultant and researcher on preventing bird collisions, said, unlike humans who can tell what glass is, for birds, glass is entirely invisible. As glass is a dynamic material that can reflect a bird’s environment, birds are unable to see the glass, causing them to collide with the glass.
“To them, they’re either seeing reflections of habitat — it can be anything from a tree, a shrub, a chunk of grass — basically anything that a bird can interact with or that might offer shelter or food, can be an attractant to them,” Trudell said. “If they’re seeing a reflection of it, or they’re seeing it through glass that’s transparent, they have no context for seeing the glass and don’t comprehend that a physical barrier exists.”
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox7austin.com/www.fox7austin.com/content/uploads/2024/07/932/524/Trudell-1280x720.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Heidi Trudell spoke during a June 5 Environmental Commission meeting to talk about bird-friendly building designs.
Trudell, who also spoke during an Environmental Commission’s meeting in June, said when birds collide with glass, especially at top speeds, the consequences vary. Some birds instantly die from colliding with glass. However, those who survive end up sustaining injuries such as blunt force trauma, brain hemorrhaging, collarbone injuries and even concussions.
“Essentially, a bird colliding with glass is the equivalent of an athlete without a helmet going 30 miles an hour into a brick wall face first,” Trudell said. “Even when it is a mild concussion, anytime a bird is on the ground, it’s vulnerable. So, the longer it’s stunned, the more likely it is to be grabbed by a cat, a dog, a fox, raccoon, like even deer (and squirrels) will eat birds on the ground.”
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox7austin.com/www.fox7austin.com/content/uploads/2024/07/932/524/Yellow-billed-Cuckoo.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A yellow-billed Cuckoo, often seen in Texas. Photo by Jason Garcia.
Trudell also noted the height of buildings plays a role in bird collisions. She said people have a misconception that skyscrapers and high-rise buildings cause bird collisions, when low-rise buildings for commercial or campuses cause 56% of bird collisions, residential buildings cause 44% and less than 1% of high-rise buildings cause bird collisions.
“Most birds are active pretty much wherever their food is,” Trudell said. “So, while there are a lot of birds active above the treeline, the main threat of bird collisions occurs within the first 100 feet of the ground, depending on where your mature tree canopy is.”
What are bird-friendly building designs?
To prevent further bird collisions, the Travis Audubon Society is advocating for the city of Austin to implement bird-friendly building design policies. Bird-friendly building designs are created to be visible to birds. Trudell said this can involve different approaches — from small patterns such as dots etched into glass to using different glass materials such as UV-patterned glass, opaque and translucent glass and even angling glass differently — all of which warn birds before they collide.
“The point is to communicate to the bird that you can’t fit through here,” said Maura Powers, a board director for the Travis Audubon Society. “(The patterns) have to be pretty narrow and there has to be an endpoint.”
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox7austin.com/www.fox7austin.com/content/uploads/2024/07/932/524/21_Block-185_Photos-by-Jason-ORear.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Block 185 or The Sailboat Building is currently occupied by Google. A spokesperson for Pelli Clarke & Partners, the architecture practice who worked on the building, said the building has low glass reflectivity and frit to prevent bird strikes. P
Trudell said there are many examples of bird-friendly buildings across the world. The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s genomics building has small dot patterns etched into the glass two inches apart making a DNA pattern, the Statue of Liberty Museum in New York City and even Block 185 in Austin, currently occupied by Google.
“Given its location adjacent to a creek and urban watershed, as well as its 35-story glass structure, Block 185 had the potential to pose a major risk to local bird populations, including the vulnerable Green Heron and Great Egret,” said a spokesperson for Pelli Clarke & Partners, the architecture practice behind Block 185. “The glazing contains elements that prevent bird strikes while remaining invisible to the naked eye, showing how bird friendly glasses present an eco-friendly way to preserve the bird population without compromising a project’s design or the views it’s intended to offer its occupants.”
What’s being done?
While Austin is a designated “Bird City” for implementing bird-friendly initiatives such as the Lights Out Resolution and the World Migratory Bird Day Resolution, the Travis Audubon Society said there’s much more work to do. In a June meeting, Austin’s Environmental Commission voted to form a working group to review policies used in different cities and how Austin’s buildings can be bird friendly.
“I do want to echo that as a birder and someone who actually takes people out professionally and guides bird trips, I am seeing less species,” said Jennifer Bristol, a commissioner for Austin’s Environmental Commission. “And it’s noticeable every time we go out. It’s sobering, it’s definitely sobering. Whereas you might have used to see hundreds of them, maybe (now)you see 10 or 12 in a season. So it is real, it’s happening right before our very eyes, and we can do something about it.”
The working group will consist of people such as commissioners Jennifer Bristol, Peter Einhorn, Mariana Krueger and Dave Sullivan. While representatives from the Austin’s American Institute of Architects chapter, the Travis Audubon Society, the Design Commission and the Animal Advisory Commission will be asked to join the working group.
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox7austin.com/www.fox7austin.com/content/uploads/2024/07/932/524/IMG_5517-1280x720.png?ve=1&tl=1)
A Bank Swallow. Photo by James Giroux.
Examples of current building codes with bird-friendly building designs in mind include San Francisco and New York City. New York City requires all new buildings to use more than 90% bird-friendly materials in the first 75 feet of the building, while San Francisco requires all new buildings, additions and significant renovations to have more than 90% of the glass in the first 60 feet to be bird-friendly.
Travis Audubon Society and Trudell said costs to replace or even install bird-friendly glass doesn’t have to be expensive, especially if designers think of bird-friendly designs early on.
While Austin’s Environmental Commission said they expect to have a plan by next April, the Travis Audubon Society said not only do they hope the city of Austin will adopt bird-friendly building codes to help the bird population in Austin, but also investigate how lighting and even landscaping can affect bird populations in urban areas.
“There’s no way to overemphasize how dire the situation is for bird populations right now,” Trudell said.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Austin, TX
Missing 12-year-old Georgia girl could be in Texas, officials say
![Missing 12-year-old Georgia girl could be in Texas, officials say Missing 12-year-old Georgia girl could be in Texas, officials say](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox7austin.com/www.fox7austin.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1280/720/snapshot-89.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
MIT: Maria Gomez-Perez
Authorities are looking for a missing 12-year-old girl from Georgia who could be in Texas. FOX 7 Austin’s Angela Shen has more on the search for Maria Gomez-Perez in this “Missing in Texas”.
AUSTIN, Texas – The search for a missing 12-year-old girl from Georgia has expanded to seven other states, including Texas.
Maria Gomez-Perez from Gainesville, Georgia was last seen on May 29. Her father spoke to FOX 5 Atlanta earlier this month.
“I trust God that he will bring my daughter back. If he allows that my daughter is still alive I trust in him that she will come home and he will bring her home,” Andres Gomez Alonso said through a translator.
In a June 11 press conference, the Hall County Sheriff says about 70 tips have come in, each one thoroughly examined.
“We are all doing everything within our power to bring Maria home safe and sound,” Sheriff Gerald Couch said.
Federal investigators are helping with the case.
“The men and women of the sheriff’s office and numerous other agencies have Maria’s image burned in our hearts and into our minds,” Couch said.
The investigation has included searches, interviews with family, school officials, friends, neighbors, and electronic data analysis.
The sheriff says he considers Maria to be in danger. “She’s a child. To be gone that long, that’s a serious issue. There’s so many possibilities where she could be and what could’ve happened to her. We’re exploring every single avenue,” Couch said.
MORE MISSING IN TEXAS
MIT: Orange Socks cold case
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the 1979 murder of Debra Jackson, also known as “Orange Socks”.
Cybersecurity engineer Sergio Franco created a website called “Help Find Maria.”
“When Maria went missing, it stole a part of me too. This is such a small community where we get to know everybody else,” he said. “Once we heard about it, we just felt like it was our own child going missing. I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to help unify the community and their efforts to help finding Maria.”
The sheriff says leads have brought investigators to seven other states: Texas, Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Investigators are not elaborating on where in Texas they searched.
“Anything’s possible. We’re searching out all avenues, especially going outside the state of Georgia,” Couch said.
The sheriff’s office assures everyone they’re still working the case, even though tips have declined.
“What we need most is for you to continue to spread the word and share accurate information,” Couch said.
“To be a 12-year-old kid, being missing from your family for that long, being in a place where you’re not really sure where to go… it’s terrifying, any kid should not have to go through. It is our responsibility to help the community,” Franco said.
There is a $50,000 reward for Maria’s safe return.
“Someone out in the community has that one bit of information that is viable to us, but they need to come forward, and that could be the key to breaking this case wide open,” Couch said.
Franco says this would be his message for Texans.
“We need help. Maria has been missing for longer than a month. We’re getting to month two. Any help, any pair of eyes, any more attention that we can get towards this case will be incredibly helpful,” he said.
Austin, TX
Texas Legislature Energy Outlook | Foley & Lardner LLP
![Texas Legislature Energy Outlook | Foley & Lardner LLP Texas Legislature Energy Outlook | Foley & Lardner LLP](https://www.foley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/powered1200x628.jpg)
16 April 2024
Powered by Foley
RNG Project Fundamentals
On this episode of the Powered by Foley podcast, we are joined by partners Robert Sarfatis and Kyle Hayes, who are regularly advising clients in the development, financing and sale of facilities utilizing renewable natural gas.
Austin, TX
Southwest Airlines says ‘assigned and premium seating’ will replace open seating plan
![Southwest Airlines says ‘assigned and premium seating’ will replace open seating plan Southwest Airlines says ‘assigned and premium seating’ will replace open seating plan](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/69e5f01/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7339x3853+0+826/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F7339x5504%20917%200%2Fresize%2F7339x5504%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6e%2F3a%2F65714010421eb465777175340eeb%2Fgettyimages-1483116033.jpg)
An unofficial motto of Southwest Airlines’ open seating process for its people boarding its planes was once, “You can sit anywhere you want — just like at church.”
But after some 50 years, Southwest passengers will soon encounter a different process when they book and board a flight. The airline will offer assigned and premium seats and a revamped boarding model, it announced on Thursday.
Adopting a system of “assigned and premium seating is part of an ongoing and comprehensive upgrade” for customers, Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said, adding that research shows passengers “overwhelmingly prefer” an assigned-seat system like that used by other carriers.
In another change, Southwest also said it would introduce redeye flights. It did not say when the new policies would be enacted.
The company unveiled the dramatic shifts in how it does business as it announced financial results for the second quarter, showing net income of $367 million on record operating revenues of $7.4 billion. In the previous quarter, Southwest lost $231 million. The airline has $11 billion in liquid funds, but it also has $8 billion in debt and is affected by the ongoing struggles at Boeing, its longtime partner.
“We are taking urgent and deliberate steps to mitigate near-term revenue challenges and implement longer-term transformational initiatives that are designed to drive meaningful top and bottom-line growth,” Jordan said.
The Southwest CEO said in April that delivery delays of new planes from Boeing, which has been embroiled in regulators’ concernsover safety issues, “presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025.”
In its update, Southwest said it received five Boeing 737-8 MAX planes in the second quarter while retiring seven older Boeing planes. Southwest had ordered 58 Boeing 737-8 MAX planes for 2024; it now expects to receive around 20 of the aircraft this year.
Southwest says it’s carrying passengers in record numbers. But it’s also retiring more aging aircraft than it can add this year: With the delivery delays from Boeing, the airline’s fleet will fall from 817 planes at the end of the second quarter to roughly 802 at the end of 2024.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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