Prevent Birds from Colliding into your Windows

Over 100 million birds die each year due to collisions with human built structures in North America alone. Daniel Klem, a biologist at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, has been studying the problem for three decades and cites window strikes as a major cause of bird fatality.

Many birds strike windows after being startled off a wild bird feeders.

It is the reflective and transparent characteristics of glass that make windows invisible killers. Birds see the tree reflected in the window or the plant behind the glass not the glass itself.

If a bird can see through to the outside through two aligned windows in your home, they confuse them for a tunnel and will attempt to fly through to get to the other side.

Collisions can happen by night, when nocturnal migrants (including many of our most beloved songbirds such as tanagers, orioles, and catbirds, and warblers) hit lighted high-rise windows jutting into their airspace.

Also during the breeding season, territorial males may see their reflection in the glass and repeatedly attack the perceived intruder. The species that do this often, are territorial such as Northern Cardinals, American Robins, and California Towhees.

Window strikes are not limited to a specific type of building, to a particular type of window, or to a certain time of year. Collisions are not limited to a certain suite of birds or to birds of a certain age or sex.

Solutions-Highly Practical

1. Place bird feeders very close (within three feet) or at least ten yards away from windows.
   Wild bird feeders placed within three feet of windows can reduce fatal collisions because birds do not have an adequate distance to reach high flight velocity.
   Placing the feeders more than 30 feet from a window will also reduce window collision risk because, at that distance, birds are more likely to recognize that the reflected image is part of a house and are less likely to fly toward it for safety.


2. Draw white or light-colored window shades, blinds, or drapes which eliminate much of the mirror effect or transparency of windows.
   Interior window treatments usually already exist in many homes. The downside is that they block the view to the outside. Below you can see the reflection is greatly reduced with drapes drawn in the picture on the right:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Keep bug screens or summer screens on the outside of exterior glass in place year-round will cut down on reflectivity and transparency.
   In newer construction, double paned windows can be shielded by screens. In older homes with storm windows, screens would need to be switched with exterior glass.

Some more solutions- Less Practical

1. Install Bird Screens or other fine-mesh plastic netting in front of windows .
   Leave a few inches between the glass and the netting to allow birds to collide softly with the mesh instead of hitting the glass.
   
   Small-mesh netting is best(such is 5/8" (1.6 cm) in diameter) so if birds do fly into it they won't get entangled but will bounce off unharmed. You can mount the netting on a frame, such as a storm-window frame, for easy installation and removal.
   Works well but requires some do-it-yourself agility; poses entanglement risk if not properly installed. Netting must be taut and at the appropriate distance from the window.
   
   You can also purchase bird screens from Wisconsin Humane Society.
   
   
2. Apply CollidEscape to the outside of windows.
   CollidEscape is an easy-to-apply film that greatly reduces the reflections on the outside of windows. The film lasts for years, but can be readily removed if needed. And yes, you can still see out the window!
   CollidEscape can also be purchased from Wisconsin Humane Society.
   
   
3. Put decals, stickers, sun catchers, mylar strips, or other objects on the outside surface of the window.
   It reduces the mirror effect of reflective windows and makes windows more visible. They must be spaced close to each other to be effective – at most 2 inches apart horizontally, and 4 inches apart vertically.
   The design of a decal or sticker is immaterial. Hawk silhouette stickers are probably no more or less useful than any others.
   
   You can purchase static cling window appliques called whispering windows or window alert at Wisconsin Humane Society.
   
   
4. Hang brightly colored fluttering ribbons in front of windows.
Irritape holographic mylar tape can be purchased at the Wisconsin Humane Society. Alternately, tie unwanted compact disks (CDs) on string in front of the window so that they turn in the wind.


5. Install external sun shades or awnings on windows, to block the reflection of sunlight
   
   
6. Keep the slats only half open on interior vertical blinds
   

I got my information from.. Preventing Home Collisions , Minimizing Window Collisions and Keeping Birds Safe around Windows

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