Many birds that migrate through our cities spend most of their lives in boreal forests or other wild places with little knowledge of the manmade structures they need to navigate around when they migrate at night. Adding to this, many buildings are brightly lit, sending confusing signals to migratory birds, and making an already dangerous journey even more perilous. On October 5, 2023, thousands of migrating songbirds died after crashing into the McCormick Place Convention Center in downtown Chicago. Find out about that night and what is being done to make cities safer for birds. One highlight is the transformation of New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center, from bird-killer to safe haven for migratory and nesting birds alike. Listen to the full story on BirdNote’s Bring Birds Back episode.