Windows birds collisions: Tips to avoid birds crashing
Ways to reduce birds crashing into windows
It is a painful sight when we see wild birds crashing in to our windows and hurt themselves. This happens in most apartments in India when a bird races down to a window thinking it to be an open space. The fact behind this is the wider glass window which makes the bird feel that it is an open space because of the transparent and reflective nature of the glass. Everyone feels disconcerted when such things happen at their home. Apart from just viewing a large window as an open passage few birds also see their reflection in the glass mirror and try fighting by pecking hard at the glass or see a reflection of the outdoors and try flying in and few blue birds are just nosey to cling on to the windows in search of food. This not only hurts the bird, but also damages the glass most of the time. Most of the birds who crash against a window have a broken neck, fractured bones/ bills, head trauma, internal bleeding, broken beak or eaten by a predator while stunned or even killed. Frequent bird crashing in your window will also result in the accumulation of their droppings.
To stop this vicious death of birds we should be creative and do something which will make the bird feel that it is a glass and not a passage. There are various solutions, through which one can save the bird’s lives as well as protect their windows.
Some tactics to avoid the crashing of birds on your window
Prominent curtains: This is one of the most helpful methods to avoid birds from crashing on to your windows. This will not make the birds confused and will stop the reflection of light. You can also opt for window blinds; this will make the birds see the window as a barrier wall. Otherwise light coloured drapes or partially closed vertical blinds on sliding glass doors during the sunshine on the window may help break up the reflection or closing or covering the opposite window or moving a mirror might help as well.
The soap effect: This is one of the most ancient solutions for bird crashing windows. For this, you need to take a damp sponge and rub it against a bar of soap and rub against your window glass. Create different patterns and cover the entire window. This will help you from a bird crashing against your window, as this technique will break the reflection and make the birds feel as a barrier.- Window films: This is one of the effective methods to avoid the crashes. Window films are available in various colours, shapes and sizes. You can film cover your window with the desired design and make the bird feel that there is no space to pass through. Another substitute for the window film is a tape. Both can be pasted in a vertical line across the window, also you can stick colourful ribbons with transparent tape on the window.
Ferocious bird silhouettes: Most of the small birds are prey to ferocious birds like hawks and vultures. These small birds are scared of the silhouettes of hawks and others; hence this will prevent the birds from nearing the window. For this you need to cut out a hawk silhouette out of paper, colour it and hang it outside the window. This is an effective method to drive them away. Also if you find it difficult to do this, you can purchase the stencils of hawks and other birds online.
Other tactics to avoid bird crashing
- Putting up something that moves or is scary.
- Avoid placing feeders directly in front of windows.
- Keep the bird feeders or bird baths far away (25-30) feet from the window.
- Put feeders or bird baths closer within 1-3 feet of the window so that the birds aren’t moving fast enough to get hurt.
- Keep the nest boxes 100 feet away from the building.
- Avoid hanging houseplants inside windows where the strikes are common.
- Cover with a newspaper, architects paper (opaque), cardboard, or sheets over the outside of the windows
- Plant shade trees planted outside the window to cut down on the reflection.
- Install window dividers
- Try putting a stuffed animal in the window
- Hang animal figures or toys near the window.
- Dim or turn off night lights during migration season.
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