A group of activists concerned about birds flying into the new Vikings stadium is protesting the stadium authority's purchase of glass that hasn't been deemed "bird safe."
The Minnesota Citizens for the Protection of Migratory Birds met with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority this week, calling for the agency to recycle the millions of dollars' worth of glass it has ordered for the stadium and instead purchase glass designed to prevent bird collisions.
Michele Kelm-Helgen, the authority's chairwoman, said officials intend to work with the Audobon Society on a bird-friendly lighting design and other operational issues. But she told the citizens' group that the decision about the glass has already been made, and said there's not room in the budget for a second order.
"To suggest that we recycle that glass, which is specifically what they asked, just doesn't make any sense," she said.
The activists responded by calling for Gov. Mark Dayton to replace Kelm-Helgen. The governor issued a short statement Friday: "I believe that Michele Kelm-Helgen is doing an outsidenting job as Chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority."
