Frequently asked questions

I've found a bird, and it's alive. What should I do?

I've found a bird, and it's dead. What should I do?

Are there requirements for volunteering?

What happens with window strike birds after they are collected?

I've found a bird, and it's alive. What should I do?

Don't do anything immediately. Watch it from afar and monitor its behavior. It can take a few minutes before the bird recovers. If you don't see any reaction after five minutes, please contact us. Approaching the bird and handling it inappropriately can cause it to become more stressed or injure itself further.

I've found a bird, and it's dead. What should I do?

Please contact us with the location of the bird(s) and a volunteer will go pick it up and assess the situation.

Are there requirements for volunteering?

You MUST be comfortable handling dead birds and inspect the perimeter of buildings. If you are unable to meet these requirements but are still interested in volunteering, please reach out! We will match you with a team member that will assist you on your shift.

What happens with window strike birds after they are collected?

Window strike specimens are kept at low temperatures in a freezer to ensure preservation until a member of our team can confirm their presence. Once confirmed, and double checked in our data, specimens are moved to another location to be prepared as study skins. These skins will then be contributed to the University of Illinois teaching collection, used by students and researchers alike!