Indigo Buntings, a common bird in Middleton and surrounding areas and common victim of window collisions, need your help. Please be a voice for birds! *Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar*

If you are a resident of Middleton, WI, you have an important, time-sensitive opportunity to support a new, proposed Bird-safe Glass Ordinance on or before the February 20, 2024 public hearing. Please submit comments using the information below by 1:00pm CT on February 20, 2024, and if you’re able, join the meeting to voice your support for bird-safe glass and responsible development!

This could be a great conservation win for birds!

WHY THIS MATTERS: Up to a billion birds die every year in the United States after hitting windows. Approximately 56% of those collisions happen at buildings that are 4-11 stories tall (see graphic below). Fortunately, this is a very solvable problem! Developers have an opportunity to create more sustainable, environmentally-friendly buildings by simply incorporating bird-safe features into their design and construction processes. And there is a mountain of evidence showing how effective these features are for reducing bird collisions. In 2020, the City of Madison passed Wisconsin’s first bird-safe glass ordinance; there have been many more examples of successful ordinances in New York City (NY), Toronto (ON), Emeryville (CA), Portland (OR), and others.

WHY MIDDLETON: Middleton is a Bird City located along the shores of Lake Mendota with premier natural areas including more than 400 acres of wildlife habitat in Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor. In addition to these natural assets that enhance the city’s beauty and access to nature, the city also boasts of 20 parks and 136 additional acres of conservancy land (not including Pheasant Branch). The City of Middleton is also located along one of the world’s major bird migration flyways and, given its many attractive natural features, is an important stopover location for a huge diversity of birds. Middleton has worked for decades to conserve important habitats for birds, and the proposed bird-safe glass ordinance allows the city to better protect birds drawn to the City.

Middleton residents can help the City take this important step to protect our birds by supporting the bird-safe glass ordinance discussed at the February 20, 2024 public hearing!

*Pheasant Branch Conservancy (photo by Amy Bayer).*

WHAT IS THE ORDINANCE? The bird-safe glass ordinance proposed by the City of Middleton mirrors the one put into practice in neighboring Madison in August 2020. Although the Madison ordinance faced a legal challenge, the ordinance was upheld by two separate court decisions and is in the clear, paving the way for other municipalities to adopt similar ordinances.

The proposed ordinance requires that buildings that are 10,000 square feet or more using a lot of glass must use glass that comes with a “frit” pattern baked or etched into the glass, allowing birds to see it and avoid it. Opponents claim the glass makes building costs excessively expensive; however bird-safe solutions can be incorporated into the project in the design phase for a relatively low cost, if any.

*Common Yellowthroats, a common bird in Pheasant Branch Conservancy and common victim of window collisions, need your help! Please be a voice for birds!* *(photo by Kelly Colgan Azar)*

What you can do:

1—WRITE YOUR SUPPORT IN A LETTER/EMAIL: Middleton residents, please write a letter or email to Mark Opitz, city planner (mopitz@cityofmiddleton.us), as well as your alderperson (find your alder here), in support of the ordinance. Recommended text is below. Letters or emails must be received by 1:00pm on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

EXAMPLE TEXT TO SEND TO MR. OPITZ AND/OR YOUR ALDERPERSON:

Dear [NAME - Mr. Opitz or Alder],

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of a bird-safe glass ordinance in Middleton. As a resident of Middleton and a member/supporter of the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon), I am proud that our city is considering the adoption of this ordinance in support of bird conservation.

**The next section should be in your own words. Things to include might be:

How long you’ve been a resident of Middleton,
Why Middleton’s natural features like Pheasant Branch Conservancy and bird diversity are important to Middleton, and this ordinance supports that,
Why birds matter to you and your community more broadly,
How you think this ordinance will positively affect the city,
Why being a Bird City is meaningful, and how this ordinance will enhance that.**

I encourage you and your colleagues to adopt the bird-safe glass ordinance and uphold the high and ambitious standards of our city.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

2—ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 20 TO VOICE YOUR SUPPORT

Middleton residents, please attend the public hearing at 7:30pm on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at the City of Middleton City Hall Council Chambers, 7426 Hubbard Ave., Middleton. Topics will include recodification of zoning ordinance, sign code, outdoor lighting code, and a new zoning map. You can expect to hear multiple topics during the meeting, but be sure your support of the bird-safe glass ordinance is heard!

With questions, contact Brenna Marsicek, director of outreach at Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, bmarsicek@swibirds.org or 608-255-2473.