A billion birds die annually after colliding with reflective glass, often mistaking it for open sky. After noticing injured birds near the Hall of Science, students spearheaded an effort to make campus safer for the millions of migratory birds flying through DC on their journey south.

In October, the Birders of AU partnered with biology professor Chris Tudge, the Office of Sustainability, and dozens of student volunteers to apply hundreds of patterned decals to the building’s expansive glass walls. These markers help birds perceive the surface as solid and are 92 percent effective, according to the American Bird Conservancy.

“When students and faculty work together to make even the smallest change, the difference can be powerful,” says Linda Aldoory, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. 

With the Office of Sustainability covering the costs and students providing the labor, the team will now evaluate the project’s success to determine if other campus buildings need similar treatment. “Protecting species on campus aligns well with AU’s long history of sustainability leadership and helps us all connect more deeply with the natural world,” says Megan Litke, director of sustainability.