Bird Collision Corps volunteer sign-up

The fall 2025 survey period will run Sept. 15 - Nov. 1.

Now welcoming new volunteers!

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 15-November 1, to be completed before 9:30AM. Online training is available in a series of short recorded videos so you can watch as you’re able. 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: Can’t commit to each week but want to help? Click here to become a substitute.

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

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! <<

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 grounds-crew 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! <<

1000 Nichols Rd., Monona

• Approximate distance walked: 1/4 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 15-30 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, small hills

• Public transportation stops right at the library on Nichols Rd.

Monona Public Library was in the Bird Collision Corps as a survey site from Fall 2022-Spring 2024. Our volunteers identified a spot on the north side of the buildings where crabapples were reflected in the windows and caused many collisions. After discussing window treatment options and costs, the library opted (with our support) to take down the crabapple tree in summer 2025, which was infested with ants and slated for removal in the coming years anyway. Fall 2025 will be the first survey period of monitoring after the tree removal.

>> 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! <<

2880 Longenecker Dr, Madison

• Approximate distance walked: 1/4 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 15-30 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, some scrabbling on rocks (requires moderate to high mobility)

• Not accessible by public transportation

The UW-Madison Arboretum’s Visitor Center is located within the large natural area with many windows overlooking the prairie and woodland areas surrounding the building. About half of the survey can be completed on a sidewalk or deck; the other half involves walking in landscaping and one instance of scrabbling down some rocks to access lower windows. A person with moderate to high mobility would be best suited for this site.

>> Click here to sign up! <<

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:

Far West Campus (Buildings 1-4)

• Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research - box canyon on the north side only

• Lot 76 Parking Ramp

• Signe Skott Cooper Hall

• Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)

Lakeshore Frit Buildings (Buildings 5-6)

• Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center

• Veterinary Medicine North and South

Lakeshore Other (Buildings 7-9)

• Linden Parking Garage

• Meat Sciences - north side only

• Dejope Residence Hall

• Plus Basketball hoops between Leopold and Cole dorms

Central Campus (Buildings 10-13)

• Microbial Sciences

• DeLuca Skywalks

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

• Nancy Nicholas Hall

South Campus (Buildings 14-16)

• Discovery Center

• Morgridge Hall

• Chemistry

500 Silent St., Verona

• Approximate distance walked: 1/4 mile

• Approximate duration of surveys: 30 minutes

• Terrain: sidewalks, landscaping, relatively level

• Madison Metro bus system drops off four blocks from the library.

Verona Public Library was in the Bird Collision Corps as a survey site from Spring 2022-Spring 2024. Our volunteers collected significant data showing the bank of windows on the north side of the library (facing the prairie and woodland) was a hotspot for collisions. The library installed a large window treatment in May 2025 to reduce collisions, so now we will collect data to see if it worked.

>> 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! <<

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 (608-255-2473) or email (bmarsicek@swibirds.org).

Thank you!

Banner photo by Ivan Lian