I am a Mount Holyoke student writing on behalf of community members who are concerned for the safety of wildlife on campus.

On December 9, 2024, our beloved and iconic pilgrim goose, Jorge, passed away after flying into one of the windows of Blanchard Dining Commons. In his last moments, he likely saw our beautiful campus reflected back to him and saw no reason to slow down.

While the college sent out emails acknowledging Jorge’s passing specifically, we still have yet to meaningfully address the root cause behind why it happened in the first place. Many students have put in hard work to help address this issue and help prevent bird strikes, but the college has not installed proper window safety measures.

It is important to remember that this tragedy was not an isolated incident. According to the American Bird Conservancy, it is estimated that over one billion birds die each year due to collisions with glass windows. 

I acknowledge we may not feel a personal connection to each of these countless birds as we did with Jorge. However, many of these birds are native and endangered species. Even the lives of birds who are not still have inherent value and do not deserve to die in this way.

While aesthetically pleasing, the large, crystal-clear windows of Blanch are particularly hazardous to wild birds who reside on campus. However, even smaller windows on campus have caused collision accidents. 

We urge the college to address this issue by installing screens or safety stickers as soon as possible, prioritizing higher-risk areas such as the Dining Commons windows.

Thank you.