The Stoddard Lab launched the Princeton Better for Birds Project in 2022. Our goal is to help make Princeton’s campus and the surrounding community a friendly and sustainable place for birds. By supporting outreach, education and advocacy activities aimed at bird conservation, we hope to foster an even greater appreciation for avian biodiversity at Princeton and beyond. In particular, we wish to unite perspectives from science, architecture, art and design to provide solutions to the most challenging problems faced by birds—and to make bird-related activities more accessible to everyone. We are partnering with the Princeton Birding Society, the Princeton Council on Science and Technology (CST) and the Princeton Office of Sustainability to achieve these aims.

Why it matters: Princeton’s campus (including nearby Lake Carnegie and the Institute Woods) is home to more than 200 bird species, many of which pass through Princeton during the spring and fall migrations. Unfortunately, many of these birds are in peril. A recent study showed that North American bird populations have declined by almost 30% in the last 50 years. Two of the top threats to birds are collisions with glass buildings and widespread habitat destruction.

Read more about our ongoing initiatives below. Students, faculty, staff, and Princeton alumni: Please feel free to reach out to us to learn more about the various ways you can get involved with our initiatives and activities. We would be delighted to provide additional information and answer any questions you may have.