This past weekend, Simply Living’s focus was on Green on the Green, Worthington’s annual sustainability fair. But May 10th was also World Migratory Bird Day, a global celebration of the billions of birds that traverse continents in a delicate dance of survival.
There is a crisis looming over the birds who make these brave journeys every year. We are sounding the alarm on a man-made disaster in the making: NEOM’s The Line. Saudi Arabia’s 170-mile-long mirrored megacity could become the deadliest obstacle migratory birds have ever faced.
A Death Trap Disguised as Progress
The Line, a futuristic vertical city encased in reflective glass, promises sustainability and innovation. Yet, its design ignores a fatal flaw: birds can’t see glass. A 2024 study in PLOS One revealed that building collisions kill over 1 billion birds annually in the U.S. alone. The study identified that even “recovered” birds often die later from internal injuries. The Line’s sheer scale and reflectivity could dwarf this toll, creating one of the most avoidable ecological disasters of our time.
The megacity sits directly beneath the Red Sea Flyway, a superhighway for over 2.1 billion birds traveling between Europe, Asia, and Africa, including endangered species like the Steppe Eagle. Unlike isolated skyscrapers, The Line’s uninterrupted glass walls will stretch across their entire flight path. Research shows that highly reflective buildings dramatically increase collision risks, as birds mistake mirrored surfaces for open sky or habitat. The Line’s mirrored surfaces will act like a 170-mile long funhouse mirror, disorienting birds and turning the structure into a deadly gauntlet for migratory species.
Beyond Birds: A Barrier to All Wildlife
The Line’s 170-mile continuous structure won’t just endanger birds—it could fracture habitats and disrupt migration for mammals, reptiles, and insects. Species like the Arabian leopard (critically endangered) and Nubian ibex rely on cross-regional movement for survival.
Solutions exist: Wildlife corridors like Wyoming’s highway overpasses (reducing animal-vehicle collisions by 90%) and The Netherlands’ Zanderij Crailoo ecoduct prove that artificial crossings or periodic breaks in The Line could allow safe passage.
NEOM’s Hollow Sustainability Claims
NEOM touts The Line as a green utopia: car-free, powered by renewables, and harmonizing with nature. But true sustainability requires protecting biodiversity, not endangering it. The project’s environmental assessments dismiss bird collision risks, despite evidence that even smaller glass buildings cause mass fatalities.
In contrast, cities like Toronto and San Francisco have adopted bird-friendly design laws, mandating fritted glass, UV-reflective patterns, and reduced nighttime lighting. The Line ignores these proven solutions, prioritizing aesthetics over ecology. If built as planned, it could eclipse the annual death toll of all U.S. building collisions combined.
A Global Problem
Migratory birds don’t belong to one country, they connect continents. The Line’s impact won’t stop at Saudi borders, it will ripple across ecosystems in Europe, Africa and Asia.
How You Can Help:
- Contact Your Representatives – If you’re in the U.S., urge Congress to pressure Saudi Arabia and international bodies (like the UN Convention on Migratory Species) to demand NEOM redesign The Line with bird-safe materials and architecture. Tools like https://resist.bot/ or https://democracy.io/#!/ can help you find contact information.
- Spread Awareness – Share this article and tag environmental organizations, journalists, and policymakers. Public pressure works!
- Support Conservation Efforts – Donate to groups like Birdlife International or the American Bird Conservancy (whose Bird of the Week we feature in our newsletter).
Not Just a Regional Issue
Our roots are in Central Ohio, but our vision spans the planet. The threats facing migratory birds, whether from urban sprawl in Columbus or a mirrored megacity in Saudi Arabia, remind us that to protect birds everywhere, we must confront crises anywhere.
The Line isn’t just a regional issue; it’s a test of humanity’s commitment to coexistence. If we allow this project to proceed unchecked, we’ll sacrifice millions of birds for a mirage of progress. Together, we can demand better.
Join Simply Living in the Fight
While our focus is local, our voice is global. By raising awareness and advocating for bird-safe policies everywhere, we help ensure that the skies remain a safe highway for generations to come. Become a member of Simply Living today to support our work—because conservation starts at home, but it doesn’t end there.
