Our Projects

To fulfill our mission, the Friends of Roberts works to:

Safeguard the integrity of the Sanctuary as an undeveloped natural area connecting people with nature.
Enhance through education visitors' appreciation and understanding of Minnesota's birds and native wildlife and their natural envronments as part of an intricate and balanced web of life.
Promote and assist in the implementation of management techniques in and near the Sanctuary that protect and enhance water quality and wildlife habitat.

Garlic mustard spreads into high quality woodlands upland and floodplain forests, not just into disturbed areas. Invaded sites undergo a decline on native herbaceous cover within 10 years. Garlic must

Spring

Removing Garlic Mustard and other invasive species
Offering guided bird walks

Summer

Planting and nurturing native vegetation
Offering education programs

Autumn

Removing Buckthorn and planting native species
Offering guided bird walks

Working to Prevent Bird-Window Collisions

and Deaths at U.S. Bank Stadium

Despite the efforts of many people and agencies that worked during planning and design to ensure that the Stadium (which is in the Mississippi Flyway) would be safe for birds, the Stadium was built with highly-reflective glass that is killing birds. Since 2016, a coalition of bird conservation groups (including Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis (ACM), Minnesota Citizens for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Friends of Roberts Bird Sanctuary) has been working to make the Stadium safe for birds.

In 2018, the coalition hosted a series of presentations by experts to help formulate retrofitting solutions for the stadium.

On March 21, one of the world’s foremost experts on bird-glass collisions, Dr. Daniel Klem Jr., spoke on “The Effects of Glass in Buildings on Bird Mortality” at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley.

On April 18, Director of the Glass Collisions Program at the American Bird Conservancy, Dr. Christine Sheppard, spoke on “Why Birds Collide with Glass and How We Can Stop Them,” at Beth El Synagogue in Saint Louis Park.

On June 13, Michael Mesure, Executive Director of the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP), presented “Legislative Solutions for Migratory Bird-Glass Collisions,” at Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center.

For more information about the Stadium Retrofit Committee, contact Jerry Bahls at jobaud@comcast.net and visit the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis website.