Bird Safe Buildings ⋆ Tucson Bird Alliance Skip to content

Bird Safe Buildings​

Program

365 million to 1 billion birds die from window collisions every year in the US alone. The majority of these strikes happen in low-rise buildings including residential areas.

Tucson, like many other cities, is experiencing rapid urbanization causing habitat loss for many species. Now more than ever, a large number of birds are found near buildings, which puts them in danger.

Tucson Bird Alliance’s Bird-Safe Buildings initiative addresses both residential window strike prevention as well as dangers posed by large commercial buildings. This program creates a safe passage and residency for millions of birds in urban, suburban and rural settings.

Three things you can do at home:

  1. Treat your windows to prevent collisions. Click here to learn how.
  2. Report any window strikes at your home using our survey and on iNaturalist.
  3. Register for the FREE Bird Safe Buildings program and receive a recognition decal.

FAQs & Best Practices

Reflectivity

At certain times of day windows become mirror-like and reflect habitat across. Birds, not being familiar with that concept, try to get over to the patch of habitat inadvertently striking the glass.

Transparency

Windows located directly across from each other create a sense of possible passage for birds.

Lighting

Especially important during migration seasons, light can distract and confuse birds who either strike the windows or become caught in the disorienting beam of light.

  • Install external blinds and screens to break up reflections. This is a temperature preserving method that can also lower your electric bill.
  • Keep internal blinds partially closed unless it creates reflectivity. If two windows are directly across from each other, it creates a sense of fly through path for the bird and should be blocked.
  • Position feeders 0-3 feet from of a window so the birds cannot gain enough speed to do damage
  • Turn off indoor and outdoor lighting when not in use. Install motion-detectors and timers on essential lighting. Shield outdoor lights downward.
  • Create designs on windows to make them more visible to birds. See our window treatment suggestions below.
  • Make sure that all designs are visible from 10 feet away. Recommendation for stripes is at least 1/8″ wide and for dots at least 1/4″ in diameter. Bigger patterns are seen better from greater distances. Space the designs 2 inches apart to protect even our smallest species.

Resources

Learn more

Window Treatment Options

What to do with a bird that hit a window

What should I do with a dead bird?

Paton Center for Hummingbirds- test embed form

Donate a Vehicle

Cars- Moving Forward Together

Tucson Bird Allaince is able to accept donated vehicles. We use teh proceeds from donated cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs, boats, motercycels and even airplanes to help fund our mission. Tucson Bird Allaince partners with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) to help run our vehicle donation program. CARS is a nonprofit that has been processing vehicle donations for nonprofits since 2003. 

 

Donate your Vehicle

Donate Stocks or Give Through your IRA

Gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds, and mutual funds

If you would like to donate stocks to Tucson Bird Alliance, please use our Stock Donation Form. 

After completing and signing the form, please: 

  • Send one copy to your broker (only your broker can initiate the stock transfer)
  • Email a copy to efreese@tucsonbirds.org or mail to
    Tucson Bird Alliance
    Attn: Erica Freese
    PO Box 91770
    Tucson, AZ, 85752

Gifts through your IRA

If you are 73 years of age or older, your gift may count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year in which the check is issued and is excluded from your taxable income.

Please provide your broker or financial institution with the following information:  

Legal Name:  Tucson Audubon Society (DBA Tucson Bird Alliance)

Mailing Address: 
Tucson Bird Alliance 
PO Box 91770
Tucson, AZ, 85752

Phone: (520) 629-0510

Tax ID#: 86-6053779

Give Through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

Ways to give through a donor-advised fund (DAF)

  • Make an outright gift now by recommending a grant to Tucson Bird Alliance.
  • Make recurring gifts with ease so that your contributions can make an immediate difference when needed most. 
  • Create a succession plan to recommend that Tucson Bird Alliance receives all or a portion of your DAF’s value upon it’s termination. 

You can select the option that best suits your philanthropic and financial goals. Contact your DAF administrator to recommend a grant to Tucson Bird Alliance and use the following information: 

Legal Name: Tucson Audubon Society (DBA Tucson Bird Alliance)  

Mailing Address: 
Tucson Bird Alliance 
PO Box 91770
Tucson, AZ, 85752

Phone: (520) 629-0510

Tax ID#: 86-6053779

If you make a contribution to Tucson Bird Alliance from your DAF, please let us know at efreese@tucsonbirds.org along with the date the request was sent, grant or reference number, name of the issuing institution, and gift amount. We value the opportunity to thank you. 

Workplace Giving & Corporate Matching

Workplace Giving

Contact your HR department to see if your company’s giving program includes Tucson Bird Alliance (formerly Tucson Audubon Society).  With this option, you can have your contributions automatically deducted from your paycheck. You choose how much and how often you’d like to give. 

Corporate Matching

If your company has a matching program, you can make your donation go twice as far! Use the information below to fill out your company’s matching gift form. 

Organization: Tucson Bird Alliance (formerly Tucson Audubon Society) 

Mailing Address: 
Tucson Bird Alliance 
PO Box 91770
Tucson, AZ, 85752

Phone: (520) 629-0510

Tax ID#: 86-6053779

Tucson Bird Alliance Vermilion Legacy Society

There are many types of Planned Gifts to Explore: Gifts left by bequest in a will or trust, charitable gift annuities, and beneficiary designations for your IRA or 401k.

Please consult with an experienced estate planning attorney and financial advisor to determine the right legacy choice for you. 

If you include Tucson Bird Alliance in your estate plans, we hope you will let us know. Please fill out the form below and send it back to us at efreese@tucsonbirds,org.

Planned Giving Form