Birds flying into windows. Any great remedies?
#1
Power Poster
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Our backyard windows face a woods, which are reflected in the windows. I've got post-it notes dotting the insides of a lot of the windows, plus some of those plastic stickers on the outside. I like the plastic stickers, but they get pricey when you have as much window area as we have, especially since they should be replaced every two years.
Is there anything else I can do?
Is there anything else I can do?
#5
Here’s a link that might help. http://www.birdfeederz.com/articles/...o-Windows.html You could also try calling your local agriculture department.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Merced, CA
Posts: 4,188
I like the one where it suggests making a fake "spider's web" of black or gray ribbon or yarn across the window. Birds will always try to avoid such things in the wild. Might make it with a large jeweled spider in the middle of the web for accent. And a conversation starter.
#7
Use clear fishing line in front of the window. If you have an overhang above the windows, you can simply hang a dozen lines in front of the windows. The clear line reflects light and warns the birds that there is something there. It plays off of the 'web' theory like many of the earlier comments. I had luck with this method when I had a house, surrounded by woods, with two windows that wrapped a corner of the house. The birds thought that they were flying around a pole near two openings (which in fact was the corner of the house and two windows). The fishing line stopped those sickening 'thuds' and saved a lot of birds.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,256
use a shepards cane and put pie tins (the ones you get in the store not your good ones) use some kind of string and attache to the cans in front of window. My DH was having trouble with the small birds trying to make nests in garage he strung them along the bottom of garage door when it was open. They are persistent little things this year they built one in the back bumper of my truck, I guess I don't go very much
#10
This used to happen a lot at camp while I was growing up. We made sure to leave a light ON inside the room, by the windows during the day... to help change the amount of reflection back to the birds.
In case no one's mentioned it yet.... here's how to take care of the BIRDS when they hit.
Sometimes, it's a glancing blow and they are able to fly away (rare). But other times, the bird hits and then falls to the ground. Here's what to do (seriously). They have either broken their necks, or are stunned. Since birds are not (usually) mammels... if they are stunned for a long time, their bodies will cool down rapidly to the point where they die. When a bird hit, we'd run outside and locate the bird on the ground. Gently, carefully lift it up with both hands. Hands on either side of the body, with the bird FACING AWAY from you. When you pick it up, the head will tilt over to one side. If the bird's neck is broken, it will tilt over quite a ways. The first few times you do this, assume the bird is still alive at first. You'll know after a short time, and experience will teach you to be able to tell after that.
Keep holding the birt in your hands. That's just enough to keep it warm enough, so that it won't die from exposure. The bird will begin to move, come back around. Sometimes they struggle, sometimes they just sit in your hands while they figure out they're not 'in kansas' anymore. Wait. When it starts to try and throw out it's wings, loosen your hands. Watch the wings (anything not moving right?). If everything looks okay, you can either flatten out your hands and let the bird take off from your 'hands plateform', or you can lightly toss it in the air to launch it. Be gentle, it's still somewhat stunned. About 90% of the time (in my experience) birds that hit windows get stunned. If you're in Florida... they can stay on the ground to recover (unless a dog or cat happens upon them!) but in the mountains or northern parts of the US, it's cold/cool enough to kill them if they're laying still for too long.
If it's got a broken wing, set it into a shoe box and put the lid on it. Cardboard shoeboxes with holes punched in them work best. Then get it to a vet, a wildlife rehab place as quick as you can. Alternately, you can care for it yourself, if you know how/what to do.
MOST importantly.... birds are like most animals - they have virus and mites. Do NOT touch anything after handling wild birds! Immediately wash and disinfect your hands.
In case no one's mentioned it yet.... here's how to take care of the BIRDS when they hit.
Sometimes, it's a glancing blow and they are able to fly away (rare). But other times, the bird hits and then falls to the ground. Here's what to do (seriously). They have either broken their necks, or are stunned. Since birds are not (usually) mammels... if they are stunned for a long time, their bodies will cool down rapidly to the point where they die. When a bird hit, we'd run outside and locate the bird on the ground. Gently, carefully lift it up with both hands. Hands on either side of the body, with the bird FACING AWAY from you. When you pick it up, the head will tilt over to one side. If the bird's neck is broken, it will tilt over quite a ways. The first few times you do this, assume the bird is still alive at first. You'll know after a short time, and experience will teach you to be able to tell after that.
Keep holding the birt in your hands. That's just enough to keep it warm enough, so that it won't die from exposure. The bird will begin to move, come back around. Sometimes they struggle, sometimes they just sit in your hands while they figure out they're not 'in kansas' anymore. Wait. When it starts to try and throw out it's wings, loosen your hands. Watch the wings (anything not moving right?). If everything looks okay, you can either flatten out your hands and let the bird take off from your 'hands plateform', or you can lightly toss it in the air to launch it. Be gentle, it's still somewhat stunned. About 90% of the time (in my experience) birds that hit windows get stunned. If you're in Florida... they can stay on the ground to recover (unless a dog or cat happens upon them!) but in the mountains or northern parts of the US, it's cold/cool enough to kill them if they're laying still for too long.
If it's got a broken wing, set it into a shoe box and put the lid on it. Cardboard shoeboxes with holes punched in them work best. Then get it to a vet, a wildlife rehab place as quick as you can. Alternately, you can care for it yourself, if you know how/what to do.
MOST importantly.... birds are like most animals - they have virus and mites. Do NOT touch anything after handling wild birds! Immediately wash and disinfect your hands.
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