CHICAGO — An exhibition centre on Chicago’s lakefront has launched a US$1.2-million effort to prevent bird strikes after hundreds of songbirds crashed into the building in one night last fall.

The McCormick Place Lakeside Center began installing film etched with tiny dots on its windows in June, the Chicago Tribune reported. The dots are designed to help birds distinguish between windows and nature. The work should be completed by early September, in time for fall migrations.