Bird Calamity Forces Galveston Skyscraper To Turn Office Their Lights

GALVESTON, TX — The untimely and unfortunate demise of nearly 400 birds that flew unwittingly into the side the 23-story Moody Plaza on May 4, has led to changes to ensure similar incidents don’t occur in the future.

The headquarters of the American National Insurance Company, which for years has been lit up at night and stood out prominently in Galveston’s skyline, won’t be lit up nearly as often in the hopes that migratory birds won’t be attracted to the concrete and steel beacon, according to a Houston Chronicle report.

On May 4, workings coming to the building were greeted with the ghastly sight of hundreds of dead or dying orioles, warblers and other avian species laying lifeless around the side of the building. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Read Also: Giant Flock Of Birds Killed In Galveston

A Blackburnian warbler (flickr/Laura Gooch)

Officials with the Houston Audubon Society speculated that the migratory birds likely became disoriented by the lights from the building, especially if they were flying lower than normal because of storms in the area, causing them to hit the building.

The birds were believed to be migrating from across the Gulf of Mexico when they flew into the side of the building.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the lights that illuminate Moody Plaza, will now be turned off during the migratory season,or when they received alerts from the Audubon Society.

The bird carcases were sent to Texas A&M University for study, while the surviving birds were sent to the Wildlife Center of Texas for treatment.

— Image: American National Insurance building (flickr/Curt Littlejohn)

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