Madison-based community science project Bird Collision Corps has opened registration for their upcoming survey, beginning April 13 and running until May 31. Supported by the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, UW-Madison, Dane County Humane Society’s Wildlife Center and the American Bird Conservancy, the Bird Collision Corps carries out surveys in spring and fall each year to provide data on and study the circumstances that lead to bird deaths caused by collisions with windows. They then offer solutions to site owners in hopes of preventing further injuries and deaths.
Bird Collision Corps was started in the spring of 2018 after, during a regular neighborhood meeting the year prior at UW-Madison, someone had asked what was being done about bird collisions. The university had not considered such an issue up to this point, so they partnered with the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance to form BCC.
Alongside preventions put in place at their currently-monitored sites, the Bird Collision Corps boasts the achievement of having their data be used as a foundation for what would become the Bird-Safe Glass Ordinance, unanimously passed in Madison in 2020, which would require that “new building construction projects larger than 10,000 square feet, sky bridges, and ground-level glass features such as sound walls, glass screens, and bus shelters” feature bird-safe glass. Middleton also followed suit in 2024, passing a similar ordinance.
Some may not realize, but window-related bird deaths are a significant issue. In 2024, a study titled “Rehabilitation outcomes of bird-building collision victims in the Northeastern United States” was published, revealing that only about 40% of birds injured from building collisions survive. Research has indicated that anywhere between 365 million and 988 million birds die each year in the U.S. from these sorts of collisions, but due to this study’s findings, factoring in deaths after collisions if the bird initially lived brings the total far above one billion deaths annually.
Collisions like these are due to birds not being able to recognize glass and the glass reflecting the sky or foliage, leading to birds believing them to be such. One of BCC’s biggest goals is to spread awareness of this issue; members of the project constantly reach out to homeowners to inform them of how they can prevent these deaths.
If one wishes to prevent these sorts of injuries and deaths at their own homes, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggests using dotted tape, Acopian Birdsavers, decals and screens, among other suggestions. The Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance also suggests partially closing blinds and turning off lights when not at home. More information about how to treat windows to prevent bird collisions can be found at swibirds.org/prevent-collisions.
If you or someone you know would like to volunteer in the Madison area for this project, information and registration can be found at swibirds.org/bcc. The sites currently being surveyed are as follows: AmFam, Dane County Humane Society, Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison College – Truax, Madison Parks office, Monona Public Library, University Research Park, UW Arboretum, UW-Madison, Verona Public Library and Warner Park Rec Center.
Otherwise, the BCC website has instructions on how to start a BCC program in one’s local community. If you are interested in starting a BCC program in your local community, such as Platteville, you can learn how at swibirds.org/bcc-box.
The Bird Collision Corps are also running a fundraiser until March 29, where you can purchase shirts, crewnecks and hoodies with their brand-new logo on them.
Thank you to Brenna Marsicek, Director of Outreach for the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, for providing some insight into the program.