Everyday Environment Podcast · Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett

Research Bite: University of Illinois Students Discuss Bird Collisions

·24 min·2 clips

Birds might see Earth's magnetic field using quantum mechanics in their eyes.

This episode features the University of Illinois Bird Strike Survey team discussing their research on bird-window collisions on campus. Hosts Abigail Garfalo and Amy Leffringhaus speak with student researchers Wren Dolnove, Sarah Jacobson, and Leilani Juantas Garcia, along with their faculty advisor, migratory bird expert Dr. Benjamin Van Doren. The student-led survey, inherited in 2023, involves over 30 volunteers monitoring campus buildings with large glass facades twice daily. Their goal is to identify collision hotspots and present data to building directors to advocate for mitigation like decals or bird-safe glass. Birds strike windows primarily due to reflections of sky or vegetation during the day and disorientation from artificial light at night. Dr. Van Doren explains that nocturnal migrants may be drawn to lights, potentially due to interference with celestial or magnetic navigation systems. The team recorded nearly 400 window strikes encompassing 60 species in 2023, with Tennessee warblers and white-throated sparrows among the most common. They note strikes peak during spring and fall migrations, with fall numbers possibly higher due to an influx of young birds. Future plans include engaging with "Lights Out" campaigns and ensuring compliance with Illinois's 2022 Bird Safe Buildings Act. A surprising insight is that birds might sense Earth's magnetic field using a retinal molecule called cryptochrome, a process potentially involving quantum mechanics. The team emphasizes that an estimated 800 million to 1 billion birds die from window strikes annually in the U.S., making it the second-leading cause of bird mortality after outdoor cats. They recommend practical solutions like applying window paint or decals in a specific two-inch grid pattern and turning off unnecessary lights during migration. A memorable moment is the hosts' audible astonishment upon learning birds might visually perceive magnetic fields. The discussion highlights how urban campuses like UIUC serve as critical migration stopover sites, making them ideal for studying this widespread issue. The tone is conversational, educational, and enthusiastic, with hosts and guests sharing personal anecdotes and expressing wonder at avian biology. The style is interview-based, fostering a collaborative atmosphere between the extension podcast hosts and the student researchers. Listeners interested in citizen science, urban ecology, or bird conservation would find this episode highly engaging. Those seeking a highly produced narrative or debate on environmental policy might prefer other content.

As heard by us

Campus bird strike research, bird navigation, and practical conservation sit at the center.

Bird collisions are the through line, and the episode stays close to a student-run Bird Strike Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you care about bird strikes, campus science, and a research bite on how birds navigate, press play.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Everyday Environment Podcast