Our Architects have many passions, including bird watching.
Laurie Dickeson has been watching birds for nearly 30 years. "Birds are wild creatures that are all around us, sometimes the only wild creatures in urban areas, yet many people barely notice them. I believe humans have a need for connection to nature, and birds can provide that. Birding requires that you tune in to sights and sounds around you, improving your observation skills and attention to detail. Being on the lookout for birds has led me to notice other creatures as well," explains Laurie.
Sadly, a recent study published in the journal Science reported that North America has lost nearly 1/3 of its wild birds since 1970. Although habitat loss is by far the largest factor in this catastrophic decline, bird-glass collisions are a contributing cause. Since volunteering with Lights Out Baltimore and the Baltimore Bird Club about 10 years ago to monitor and record the number and species of birds injured or killed by striking glass on Baltimore buildings, Laurie follows ongoing research on how building design and material selection can reduce the number of bird deaths resulting from collisions with glass.