Citizen Science Project Tracks Bird Collisions With Buildings Across India
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A citizen science initiative is documenting the widespread issue of birds colliding with glass buildings in India. The Bird Collisions India project, launched in 2020, has recorded nearly 88 instances of such collisions. Recent studies and reports from different states highlight the threat to various bird species, including endemic and migratory ones.
Facts First
- A citizen science project has recorded nearly 88 bird-building collisions across India since its 2020 launch.
- Recent studies documented dozens of collisions involving endemic and migratory species in southern and western India.
- The issue affects a wide range of birds, from the endemic Nilgiri wood pigeon to migratory rosy starlings.
- The Bird Collisions India project uses the iNaturalist app to collect data from bird-watchers and citizens.
What Happened
The Bird Collisions India project has recorded nearly 88 instances of birds hitting buildings as of April 2026. A 2025 study in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve documented 35 collision instances involving 22 bird species over one year. Separate incidents in 2022 and 2024 saw migratory rosy starlings and long-tailed broadbills crash into glass structures in Gujarat and Meghalaya, respectively.
Why this Matters to You
If you live in or near areas with significant bird populations, you may witness these distressing collisions more frequently. The data being collected could lead to changes in local building codes or design guidelines, which might affect future construction projects in your community. You can contribute to conservation efforts by reporting collisions through the Bird Collisions India project on iNaturalist.
What's Next
The Bird Collisions India project is likely to continue gathering data to provide a clearer national picture of the problem's scale. This information may be used to advocate for bird-friendly architectural standards. Further research might identify the most dangerous building types or locations, guiding targeted mitigation efforts.