Bird Safe Windows Network grew from a simple observation: the single largest source of bird-window collisions — our homes — was being almost entirely ignored. We set out to change that.
Bird Safe Windows Network was founded by Punita Koustubhan, who recognized that residential bird-window collisions — responsible for nearly half of the up to one billion annual bird deaths from window strikes in the US — were almost entirely unaddressed by existing conservation programs. Commercial buildings had received attention and policy; the homes where most collisions actually happen had not.
Starting in Salt Lake City, Punita built a community-based installation program from the ground up — recruiting and training a team of conservation interns, developing rigorous data collection systems, and creating a replicable model for bringing free, professional bird-safe window treatments directly to homeowners. What began as a local effort under Great Salt Lake Audubon quickly proved both the demand and the model, completing dozens of installations with a waitlist that continues to grow.
Bird Safe Windows Network is the national expansion of that proven model — a growing network of community nodes, each bringing the same free, science-grounded program to its own region.
Punita founded Bird Safe Windows Network and built its founding node, Bird Safe Utah, from the ground up. She leads program development, partnerships, and the network’s national expansion, bringing a hands-on, community-first approach to conservation at scale.
Everything about Bird Safe Windows Network is designed to be effective, equitable, and replicable.
Every site assessment and the installation of a home’s highest-risk windows is provided at no cost. Removing the cost and access barriers is what turns good intentions into real conservation outcomes — and ensures the program reaches households across every income level.
Our installations are carried out by trained conservation interns, creating a workforce development pipeline alongside the conservation impact. Students gain real field experience in community conservation, data collection, and program delivery.
Every visit generates structured data on collisions, habitat, and outcomes — building an evidence base that improves the program and contributes to the broader science of residential bird-window collisions.
Each node operates under a shared model with common training, data infrastructure, and brand. This is what allows a program that works in one community to be brought faithfully to the next.
Bird Safe Windows Network is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Our founding node, Bird Safe Utah, operates across Salt Lake City, Park City, and communities throughout Utah in partnership with Great Salt Lake Audubon.
Whether you want a bird-safe install, want to start a node in your community, or want to support the mission — we would love to hear from you.
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