Bird Collision Corps
Volunteering Information

 Fall survey period: SEpt. 16 - Nov. 1

Registration for fall 2024 surveys is now closed.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Bird Collision Corps! We are working with site hosts and YOU to find which areas are prone to bird-window collision so we can work together to change that. Your time and energy is invaluable in understanding this question and collecting critical data.

Surveys are done once-a-week from September 16 - November 1, conducted before 9:30AM. Online training will be available on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 7:00-8:30 PM on Zoom. A recording will be available for those who cannot attend. Learn more about site accessibility in the descriptions below.

• READ ABOUT EACH: Click on an image below to jump to a specific site description, or scroll down

• VOLUNTEER: If you know where you want to volunteer, click here to sign up.

• SUBSTITUTE: Sorry, we are now full on substitutes.

Please contact Brenna Marsicek (bmarsicek@swibirds.org, 608-255-2473) with any questions. Thank you again for your interest in this program!

Location: Downtown Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1-3 miles
  Approximate duration of surveys: 60-90 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, grass, landscaping, hills

• Accessible by public transportation

UW-Madison is broken into six sectors, each containing between 3 and 5 buildings. Volunteers will choose just one sector for your weekly surveys.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

SURVEY SECTORS YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM:

Central Campus (Buildings 14-16)

• Nancy Nicholas Hall

• Genetics-Biotechnology Center - box canyon on the north side only

• Discovery Building

East Campus (Buildings 17-19)

• Education Building

• Law Building

• Chemistry

Southeast Campus (Buildings 20-22)

• Ogg Residence Hall - walkway and entryway only

• Nicholas Recreation Center

• Kohl Center

>> Click here to sign up! <<

702 S. Randall Ave., Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 3/4 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 45-60 minutes

• Terrain: paved sidewalks, a couple of small hills

• Public transportation comes within 1/2 mile of the zoo

Henry Vilas Zoo has a number of glass enclosures and buildings that they would like to have monitored for window collisions. Volunteers will check in each morning at 8am at the Volunteer Central building near the north entrance, walk through the zoo to conduct surveys, and complete surveys by 9:30am when the zoo opens. Volunteers will need to complete a couple extra trainings provided by the Zoo in order to comply with their safety protocols.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

909 Sequoia Trail, Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1/4 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 15-30 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, small hills

• Public transportation stops within 3 blocks of the school.

Lincoln Elementary School is a nice, small site on the south side of Madison. The third grade students conduct surveys on all school days during the spring survey period. Volunteers are needed for weekends.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

1701 Wright St., Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 45-60 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping

• Along public transportation

Madison College has multiple large, big, beautiful buildings that feature a lot of glass. We are excited to partner with them this fall, and they are eager to learn where we find collisions. Some of the groundscrew have monitored certain areas for collisions previously and are sympathetic to the problem and open to change.

SURVEY SECTORS YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM:

1. West campus (Health Education & Protective Services)

2. Truax building (Gateway Center, Ingenuity Center, and automotive area in East Court)

   
   

   >> Click here to sign up! <<

5606 River Rd, Waunakee

• Approximate distance walked: 1/2 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 30-45 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, small hills

• Not located near public transportation

Madison Country Day School is located on the north side of Lake Mendota, overlooking Cherokee Marsh with restored prairie between the school and the marsh.

MCDS’s kindergarten classes have done Bird Collision Corps surveys around their school since fall 2022. They found collision hot spots in a couple of areas, presented their findings to the school, and were able to get window treatments applied to two windows in summer 2024. The school kids monitor during the week, and community volunteers monitor on weekends. The school is long and narrow with lots of nooks and crannies to look in.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

5565 Tancho Dr., Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1/2 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 30-45 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, grass, landscaping, level ground

• Not accessible by public transportation

Oakwood Village - Prairie Ridge is a senior living community on the far east side of Madison, with four skywalks and large windows. The surveys are conducted around the community room building (not private residence areas).

>> Click here to sign up! <<

3870 Nakoma Rd., Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1/4 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 15-30 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, relatively level

• Along a public bus route and near the Southwest Commuter Bike Path

We are looking for community members each day of the week to survey around Thoreau Elementary School. Students and staff have noticed birds hitting windows along the north side facing Nakoma Park, so this is where the majority of the survey will be done.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

1625 Northport Dr., Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1/4 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 15-30 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, relatively level

• Along a public bus route

Warner Park Community Recreation Center is set within the manicured landscaping and restored habitats of Warner Park. It has large glass walls on the south and west sides, and considerable bird activity within.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

1118 E. Washington Ave., Madison and 1055 E Mifflin St., Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1/2 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 15-30 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, relatively level

• Along a public bus route

WYSO is a brand new building along E Washington that opened in 2024. It was built using bird-safe glass (fritted pattern in the glass) in all of the large windows. We expect this to be a low-collision site and would like to have data that hopefully shows that!

MYArts is a relatively new building, constructed within the last five years, with nice large windows without fritted glass. MYArts has been a BCC partner since 2023.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

Next STEP: Watch for a confirmation email

Finally, one of the project coordinators will follow up with you to confirm your participation. Thank you so much for your time and energy on helping with this project! If you have any questions, please contact Brenna Marsicek, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance director of outreach, by phone (608-255-BIRD) or email (bmarsicek@swibirds.org).

Thank you!

Banner photo by Ivan Lian