Window Collisions in San Antonio

Like any urban city, San Antonio presents a great many dangers to local and migratory birds, including glistening glass-faced buildings. Each of these photos, and their 3D printed counterparts, are individuals that died on campus at UT San Antonio. Through printing and redistributing these models onto our campus landscape, we hope to encourage dialogue, both about the complex lives and deaths of urban birds.

Each of the links below connect to narrative created by UT San Antonio students. The stories and narratives encourage us to connect ecologically, culturally, ethically with our feathered relations.

One of the greatest threats to migratory birds is the danger posed by glass in man-made structures. In fact, after domestic cats, bird-building collisions are the largest cause of bird mortality, leading to up to 1 billion deaths each year within the United States alone. Urban Bird Project is working with our students and community to raise awareness of both the problem and the variety of affordable options to help these collisions from happening.

Learn More About Window Collisions

Watch “The Invisible Threat” – a video on Window Collisions by UBP Spring’26 Scholar Kaitlyn Endicott, Gabriel Mitchell, Victoria Buentello, Jade Permenter, and Gabrayel Nicolai-Crane

"The Invisible Threat" video on Window Collisions by Kaitlyn Endicott, Gabriel Mitchell, Victoria Buentello, Jade Permenter, and Gabrayel Nicolai-Crane

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)

The Sacred Flight of Huitzilpochtli

Created by Bianca Beronio, Mary Medellin, Ana Gabriela Medina and Sol Roberts-Lemus

The Black-chinned Hummingbird

Created by Bella Canales, Jordan Miller, Natalie Clark, Nik Standing, Rubi Angulo

 
Photo of a Black-Creseted Titmouse that died from colliding with window glass

Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)

Teeny the Titmouse

Created by Brianna Aguilar, Devin Lin Barden, Maya Diaz, Jamie Thomas, Tanner Waltrip

Photo of a Hermit Thrush that died from colliding with window glass

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Hear My Song, Hermit Thrush

Created by Isabella Armas, Sarah Garcia, Allison de la Houssaye, Sarah E. Landel and Vivian Moya

Photo of a Lincoln's Sparrow that died from colliding with window glass.

Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

The Secretive Lincoln’s Sparrow (MapHub)

Created by Monica Barbay and Jill Pugh

Eve’s Last Flight

Created by Corbin Karras, Yolanda Morales, Naomi Ramos, Fiona Valor

 

Great-tailed or Mexican Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

The Great-tailed Grackle

Created by Alexandra Carrillo, Emily Garcia, Rylan Renteria, Alexander Tenorio

The Last Reign of the Grackle King

Created by Jessica Coleman, Kennidy Payne, Maria Elena Vargas

Photo of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that died from colliding with window glass.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)

Raising Awareness of Avian Life

Created by Natalie Amori, Bailey Hall, Rida Hussain and Kate McCaslin