Birds vs. Windows

It happens every year; panicked phone calls about birds crashing into house windows! Some birds are only stunned after hitting a window, while others have much more serious injuries.

A bird will fly into a window for several reasons. Maybe they didn't see the window. They could see their reflection as another bird and become territorial or they see their reflection as a mate. Perhaps you have two windows in a line and the bird is simply trying to get to the other side. Whatever the reason - here are some ideas to keep birds, and your windows, safe.

1- Add window screens, if possible. This will limit the glare on the glass and will provide a "bounce back" should a bird hit the window.

2- Close the blinds during early mornings and late afternoons when birds commonly hit windows. Blinds will show the bird there is something there.

3- Window clings will also draw attention away from your window, at least where birds are concerned. Let your kids decorate clings and place them around windows the birds seem to frequent. Make sure to move the clings around, or change them, periodically so the birds don't become desensitized to them.

4- Hang a pie tin, or CD, in front of your window. Not as decorative as window clings but the reflective surfaces will keep the birds at bay.

5- Where are your bird feeders? Although you like to watch the birds at your bird feeders, one thing you could do is move the feeders farther away from your windows. Give the birds enough space to fly around the feeder and still stay out of the way of other, more territorial, birds. With feeders close to your windows, if a birds feels threatened it will simply fly - no matter what is in their way.

If you ever have a bird that gets injured after hitting your window, call your local animal rehabilitation center.

                                          (photo copy write by Mary Sivertsen. Used with permission)