Chicago Bird Collision Monitors

It is estimated that a billion birds die and countless others are injured each year in North America as a result of window collisions!

Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) is an all-volunteer conservation project dedicated to the protection of migratory birds through rescue, advocacy and outreach.

CBCM works to protect and recover migratory birds that are killed and injured in the downtown Chicago area each spring and fall migration. Confusing lights and glass building design cause thousands of birds migrating along the lakefront to collide with downtown buildings. Our teams spend the early morning hours recovering these birds to save the injured and document the fatalities that have occurred.

We promote bird-safe lighting and building design to reduce bird collision hazards. Our project collaborates with building management, architects, planners and the public to prevent bird collisions.

LATEST NEWS and EVENTS

Support bird-friendly design in Chicago!

Please sign our declaration at: Bird-Friendly Chicago

Spring migration begins in March and Fall migration begins in August - we need you to help us help migratory birds!

Attend one of the upcoming Chicago Bird Collision Monitors training classes to learn how you can participate in our rescue and conservation work.

Training Schedule

Northwestern University Takes Action to Make Buildings Bird-Friendly

View the press release

Leave the Lights Out for Birds!

View the April 2018 BOMA article

Chicago’s Killer View: The Skyline’s Toll On Migratory Birds

View or listen to the May 2, 2016 WBEZ 91.5 CHICAGO - Curious City - show

Help reduce Chicago's light pollution

It’s important that we do NOT use bright white/ blue-rich spectrum lighting as it has serious negative effects on human health, the environment, and the ecosystem. Get rid of Chicago's light pollution for a healthier & happier quality of life. Please sign and share this petition in as many ways that you can think of. Mayor Emanuel has a plan to replace 270,000 lights— the largest city lighting installation in the world. Please speak up now, while the Chicago lighting plans are being tweaked.

CBCM and Willowbrook Wildlife Center in the news

Daily Herald article

Quigley, Griffith Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Millions of Bird Deaths

May 12, 2015 Press Release

Bill would require federal buildings to incorporate bird-safe measures

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), along with Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), introduced the Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act, which would help prevent the deaths of millions of birds by including bird-safe building materials and design features across federal buildings.

"Migratory bird season in Chicago reminds us that birds are not only beautiful animals telling us that warmer weather is on its way; but they help generate billions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy through wildlife watching activities," said Rep. Quigley. "However, collisions with glass buildings claim hundreds of millions of bird lives each year in the U.S. The Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act...read more

Please click the link below and support this bill