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 in its fight with the Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority over making the new glass encased football stadium safer for birds.

Warning the new stadium "could kill thousands of migratory birds unless the stadium's builders take immediate action to incorporate bird safe measures," Audubon urged its members to 

 about the mammoth glass and steel stadium and the potential for many birds to die hitting it. They've  been pressing for project builders to use bird friendly designs.

But Audubon said that on July 17 staff were told that there would be no change in stadium glass choice, "potentially dooming thousands of birds."

Metropolitan Sports Facilities Authority chair Michele Kelm-Helgen responded the stadium's designers had in mind "to create a building that was more connected and integrated with the community than the Metrodome had been. The ability to see in and out of the stadium was what led us to the design that included the ETFE roof and operable doors on the downtown facing wall."

The MSFA's statement released Wednesday afternoon continues:

Paul Tosto

Author

The Minnesota Audubon Society on Wednesday took the offensive in its fight with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority over making the new glass encased football stadium safer for birds.

Audubon: New Vikings stadium a bird ‘death trap’

Go Deeper.

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