Abstract

Bird window collisions, more commonly referred to as bird strikes, are the devastating event that occurs when a bird flies into a glass surface. The incident typically occurs due to the lack of vision in the birds, as they cannot see the glass or are deceived by the reflections of trees, sky, and vegetation. It is estimated that 1 billion birds will meet their fatal end from the high-speed impacts. If a bird survives a collision, the impact can cause serious internal injuries (brain trauma, internal bleeding, disorientation, etc.). Birds play a vital role in ecosystems as consumers of insect and rodent populations. They are also effective pollinators, populating thousands of plant species annually. In addition, the species acts as a critical environmental health indicator, supporting agriculture through natural pest control and contributing to biodiversity. The corpses of dead or stunned birds can be found on HCC’s campus. HCC’s facilities team often collects them during a morning sweep of the campus. The PTK leadership team partnered with HCC facilities and UMBC experts to advocate for a bird safe campus. As well as quantitative and in addition to quantitative data collection, this project incorporated a digital storytelling video as a central advocacy tool to communicate findings to a broader audience. The video synthesized field data, visual evidence, and campus perspectives to raise awareness and support institutional change. From the research, we identified qualitative data collection to share a story in a meaningful way to a diverse audience from scientific and non-scientific backgrounds to effectively tell a story that is important for the entire community to hear. From the research we were able to collect information on the location of the bird strikes on campus, the time of day they occurred, aftermath photos of the collisions, as well as the type of glass pane required to halt the collisions not only in our campus but in the world. We conclude by outlining how HCC can improve campus safety in the coming years.

Introduction

Bird strikes resulting from collisions with buildings have been crucial in recent years. This causes nearly one billion bird deaths each year globally [2]. Even though there is a positive trend to focus on sustainable architecture and energy-efficient building standards such as LEED certification, a critical blind spot remains [1]. The use of large, reflective glass surfaces on the building makes the glass indistinguishable for birds by not allowing them to differentiate glass and the sky above [1]. This phenomenon is known as the invisible enemy representing a significant threat to bird health and global biodiversity [4].

At this stage, college campuses often serve as microcosms of this conflict. Technical solutions like visual markers, window films, and light mitigation exist, but low public awareness and high costs often hinder their implementation [3]. This situation highlights the need for comprehensive conservation strategies that combine data collection with effective advocacy.

Our study was conducted as a Phi Theta Kappa Honors in Action project. We utilized a multi-method approach to address bird window collision problems on our community college campus. The project’s goal is to use research and data as a catalyst for action to make the campus safer. Furthermore, only recognizing the data is often not helpful to drive policy change, so this research incorporates digital storytelling as a primary tool for community engagement and education [5]. This article explains how student-led initiatives can lead to a culture of environmental stewardship and transform the campus into a more bird-friendly ecosystem. Digital storytelling is particularly effective in translating scientific data into emotionally compelling narratives, helping bridge the gap between research findings and administrative or public action

Methods

Figure 1: Map of collision at Howard Community College campus dating from the 2018-19 academic year

The research was carried out throughout a period of 6 months dating from June 5, 2025, to January 7, 2026, as part of this year’s Honors in Action project carried out by Alpha Alpha Sigma, HCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. The following five campus buildings were selected as high-risk zones because of historic strike data showing high mortality. Many of these buildings contain large reflective glass facades, which prior research has identified as a major structural factor contributing to bird-window collisions, making them appropriate locations for targeted monitoring (see Figure 1).

• Thomas P. Clement Hall (formerly named the Science Engineering and Technology Building)
• Kathleen Hetherington Hall
• Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall
• Clark Library/Academic Commons
• McCuan Hall

As a result, a systematic surveillance protocol was set up for spotting evidence of bird strikes. An on-campus trail was created to ensure accuracy throughout the surveillance of walks (see Figure 2). The PTK leadership team began walking the trail from November 10, 2025, up until November 26, 2025. Observation times varied by availability of the PTK leadership team. Routine monitoring occurred every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 6 and 8 am to report any sighting of bird strikes before HCC’s facilities rounds. Additional observations were performed on Mondays between 5 and 6 pm, Tuesday and Thursdays between 12 and 2 pm, Thursdays between 8 and 9 pm, Fridays between 1 and 2 pm, and Saturdays between 7 and 9 am.

Figure 2: Map of HCC campus with trail outlined

Additionally, a campus wide Google form was created on October 25, 2025, for the sighting of any bird strikes on campus, asking the following questions:

• Where did you find the bird? This may include a building/area, grass, concrete, etc. Be as specific as you like.
• Please provide Coordinates if applicable.
• What did the bird look like? Please include coloration, patterns, size, and any other details you may have observed.
• If you believe you know the species, please let us know.
• When did you find it? If possible, please include a date and timeframe.

Figures 3 and 4: Campus wide Google form questions

The objective was to be very specific to gain as much insight into the sightings as possible. By crowdsourcing data through a campus-wide Google form, the team aimed to minimize geographic gaps in surveillance and identify temporal patterns in bird-window collisions that occurred outside of scheduled walk times. To supplement the raw data and enhance community engagement, a digital storytelling video was developed as a core component of the project’s methodology. This video integrated field observations, photographic evidence of bird collisions, drone footage of high-risk campus buildings, and narrated explanations of the tissue. It was designed to communicate scientific findings in an accessible and emotionally impactful format for non-scientific audiences, including students, faculty, and campus administrators. The video was shared during presentations and outreach efforts to increase awareness and support for bird-safe infrastructure initiatives. This visual content incorporates high-impact evidence, including images of dead birds found on the campus. The video also features detailed recordings of Howard Community College campus building surroundings. The drone captured views in this video provide a broader context about the bird strike locations. With music and voiceovers by one of the leaders on the team, this digital story serves as a primary tool for community engagement and advocacy.

Results

From the campus-wide survey, a total of 13 bird-window collision reports were collected during the study period. The consistency between the survey reports and the previously identified high-risk buildings suggests that the historic collision dataset accurately predicted areas of elevated collision risk on campus. All reported cases involved deceased birds, and no injured birds were documented during the study period. Out of the 13 responses the TCH (formerly known as SET) and Kathleen Hetherington Hall buildings comprised 5 of the responses (roughly 40%), one responder found avian mortality at West Parking Garage, 3 found at the East Parking Garage, 1 found at both the Kahlert Foundation Complex and Clark Library, and 2 birds found at the Academic Commons. Identification of species was largely unavailable due to survey responses submitted by campus community who are generally unfamiliar with bird species. The responses directly correlated to our 5 high-risk buildings, comprising over 60% of bird strikes spotted on campus. Reported collisions occurred between approximately 7 am and 3 am, indicating that most incidents were recorded during daylight hours when campus activity was highest. Data of bird-window collisions from 2018 – 2019 provided a comprehensive foundation for understanding the issues on campus. The PTK leadership team found that the 2025 collisions happened in almost the exact same spots as those recorded in 2018. The dataset includes a map that specifies the locations of the bird collision, presented by bold red dots (see Figure 1). The dataset also includes tables which clearly indicate the time of discovery of the collision, the identification of the bird, and the condition of the bird on whether it’s dead or not. Reported collisions appeared to occur more frequently during the winter months (December–January) and again during the spring period (April–May), which may correspond with seasonal bird migration patterns.

Figure 5: Dead bird located at East Parking garage

Figure 6: Dead bird located at Thomas Clement Hall (previously, Science, Engineering, and Technology)

Figure 7: Dead bird located at Kathleen Hetherington Hall

Conclusion

This paper examined the subject of bird-window collision on campus buildings in Howard Community College through a research design that involved the use of archived data, field observations in a structured way, and photographic records. The study of the known collision case showed some similar trends of mortality rates with high reflective glasses and at building locations. Daytime observations confirmed that collisions occur under various light levels; these findings align with existing literature regarding avian disorientation on reflective and transparent surfaces. The physical concentration of accidents at both Thomas Clement and Kathleen Hetherington Hall indicates that specifically the large surround-facing reflective glass panels are a major contributor to collision hazards, as these areas accounted for an estimated 40% of total recorded strikes in our field observations. Moreover, the results indicate that collisions between birds and windows are not a one-time anomaly, but repetitive impacts on campus infrastructure. To address this issue, a proposal is being developed to secure funding from Howard Community College for the implementation of various mitigation measures on campus windows, aimed at further reducing the incidence of bird-window collisions. The integration of digital storytelling further strengthened the project’s impact by translating scientific findings into a compelling narrative that resonated with the campus community. This approach highlights the importance of combining research with communication strategies to effectively drive environmental action.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the rest of Howard Community College’s Alpha Alpha Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.