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New Chicago Apple Store Will Dim Lights Following Deadly Bird Strikes

CHICAGO (AP) -- The new Apple store in downtown will dim its lights after complaints from wildlife groups that say its glassy facade is causing deadly bird strikes.

Opening of the Apple Store in Chicago
Hundreds of people attend the opening of the Apple Store in Chicago on Oct. 21, 2017. (Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Getty Images)

The Chicago Tribune reports that Apple spokesman Nick Leahy says the Cupertino, California-based company would "get the lights down" as much as possible overnight starting Friday through the migratory season. The new two-story store with floor-to-ceiling glass along the Chicago River opened Oct. 20. Leahy acknowledged the bird strikes but said it hasn't been a large number.

Opening of the Apple Store in Chicago
The new Apple Store in Chicago. (Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Getty Images)

Members of the volunteer group Chicago Bird Collision Monitors say they've found dead birds at the store. The group blames the store's exterior glass walls and night lighting. Experts say city lights often disorient birds, causing them to crash into buildings and fall.

© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

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