$300K Bird Study Approved for New Vikings Stadium

Minneapolis, MN – $300,000 will be spent studying the impact U.S. Bank Stadium's 200,000 square feet of glass has on birds. Advocates believe a significant number of birds may collide with the glass and die as a result.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) and the Minnesota Vikings will split the $300,000 cost to study the issue for the next three years, according to agenda documents from a meeting last week.

• How to Get News Alerts and Newsletters from Patch

The MSFA was established by the Minnesota State Legislature in 2012 and oversees the design, construction and operation of U.S. Bank Stadium. It consists of five members and is currently chaired by Michele Kelm-Helgen.

Minnesota Public Radio reported that Jerry Bahls, president of the Minneapolis chapter of the National Audubon Society, estimates that up to 1,000 birds could be killed each year as a result of the stadium's glass exterior.

"The glass has actually been on the building, including the west wall of the stadium, for over a year," she said.

"Mortenson's construction team tells us that arriving early every morning, 5 to 5:30 as they come to the site, anecdotally, they have not found a problem with injured birds."

The design of the study will begin immediately, with monitoring from 2017 through 2018.

A final report will be issued June 2019, which will include any required deterrents and management techniques to reduce collisions.

The Vikings will play their first regular season game at the new stadium Sept. 18 against the Green Bay Packers.

Photo via William Bornhoft/Patch.com