Birds flying into windows. (1 Viewer)

[BEV.V]

Hi there , just thought I would share this info with anyone who has a problem with birds flying into glass windows and doors. Its extremely upsetting to suddenly hear a sickening thud on the the window or door in the house , only to realise a bird had flown full pelt into the reflection and either severely injured or killed itself. We have had it a lot lately especially the young bullfinches and blue tits. When startled usually by a hawk, they fly into the window thinking its an escape route but its not. We stuck hawk decals on the windows, moved feeders, closed blinds but it made no difference ,they still hit or had close shaves with the glass. I searched for a solution and eventually emailed a company in USA called colidEscape. They make a covering for the outside of the glass which stops the reflection but you can still see out. Its not available here in uk as far as I know , but they will probably ship it at a cost. A lady contacted me from a print company in the US saying a similar product here was available called one way vision perforated vinyl. I searched and found a few printers and a couple sent samples. They use it for car windows and shop window adverts. I found some on Ebay and we fitted it this week end on the conservatory windows. There is a slight tint from inside but seeing out to look at the birds is no problem. Outside it just looks white with tiny holes in so quite good if privacy is an issue or you want to see the birds without them seeing you!My husband and son fitted it with no probs , its easy with two people. Anyway so far the birds have managed to avoid the glass as it doesn't look like a reflection anymore so fingers crossed it works! It was so upsetting to see the birds hitting the glass and we spent a small fortune on window hawk silhouettes etc. Sorry to go on but worth a try for anyone with the same problem as we had and had tried all the other possible solutions.

 

[Stephen-Brooks]

http://www.windowalert.com/?gclid=CILfx523kqsCFUcMtAodoRwJug

Hi Bev,

Please check out the above link.

Kind Regards

Stephen

 

[bongofury]

http://www.windowalert.com/?gclid=CILfx523kqsCFUcMtAodoRwJug

Hi Bev,

Please check out the above link.

Kind Regards

Stephen

Interesting. Do you have any direct experience of these? I might be interested, but are they any better than just sticking black paper cut outs on the window? This is what I currently have and they have reduced impacts but not eliminated them.

 

[BEV.V]

Hi Stephen, Yes I have some of these window alerts as well as the ordinary red and black ones. They did seem to marginally reduce the impacts but I spaced them four alertes on each 3mx1.5m door! It was unfortunate but a nuthatch tried to fly in between them and stunned itself. It did fly off but i don't Know if it actually survived. We had a big problem with young bullfinches hitting the glass and lost four in a week that I know of. By this time I was getting upset as feeding the birds is a pleasure and we felt guilty they were hitting the glass. We live in a wooded area and have a couple of sparrow hawks and a kestrel that 'buzz' our garden regularly so the garden birds have to dive for cover in the shrubs . I think thats part of the problem. Anyway we tried moving feeders but its somewhat limiting as our garden is very steep and not easy to climb in winter months so we have sighted feeders in various places but still the birds come to the ones nearest the house. I will say that so far the bullfinches seem to be able to see the window film and don't head for it anymore and all the birds seem ok with it. The strange thing is that they never tried to fly through the lounge window that sees straight through to another window which I think is common? Instead it was the conservatory window which has a blank wall behind it so it was the reflection they were seeing! The window uv alerts do seem a lot better than the usual silhouettes in black so have kept them for future use! It does seem a bit drastic to cover 4 conservatory widows with one way window film but the bonuses are we can still see the birds and they can't see us as easily and it stops some of the glare if we ever have a good summer !! Any questions let me know but the film does seem to work here. I didn't want to even guess how much the similar product from the states would have cost to send but they were helpful in suggesting this film. Kind regards Bev.

 

[Euan Buchan]

I Remember a WoodPigeon flew into our kitchen window giving my Mum a huge fright it didn't kill itself though.

 

[cadillactaste]

Interesting. Do you have any direct experience of these? I might be interested, but are they any better than just sticking black paper cut outs on the window? This is what I currently have and they have reduced impacts but not eliminated them.

I have these...but am currently unhappy with them. I must admit that I'm not having as many frequent hits. But the sound of one...with feathers left on the window makes my stomach turn in knots. I've finally got the Red-Breasted Woodpeckers eating in my yard and had one fly into my window the other day. He was on the ground flopping...I yelled for my husband to go give it a look. To see if he could calm it down...check it out. But by the time he got to the area, the bird had thankfully flown away. But I want something "more" to protect my feathered friends.

So I'm off to check into CollidEscape...After coming to identify the birds and feeding them now. It sickens us all to hear that "thud" of a bird hitting the window.

 

[cadillactaste]

I may purchase one...and see how it works and if I like it...and then buy it for the other window if it is successful. I would "love" to have one custom done...but I would love bird houses...and that doesn't sound like it would keep them away. But draw them near the window in attempt to find shelter. So...re-thinking of what I could put on it...I would want something other than "white" for the picture window facing the front of the house in the sun room.

 

[cadillactaste]

I wonder what the printed ones cost. Would it be so cute to have one for each season...to go on the window. Hm-mmm brain storming now!

 

[cadillactaste]

If you leave them on the window longer than a year...one may need a razor blade to remove it in places...that sounds...scary! I think of how hard some wallpaper can be to remove...and think...on windows...one may have to replace windows. Though...maybe I'm over reacting this...what's your thoughts?

 

[KenM]

Leave your window open!...I've had Robin, Great Tit...and on one occasion Blue Tit being pursued by Sparrow Hawk!...both in one open window..across the fixed..and out the other window..whilst I sat in bed with a ''cuppa'' in my hand. I suppose the answer is place your feeder as far away from the viewing window as possible! This should solve the problem...then I might get Bullfinches in my garden..once upon a time a regular species, now if I'm lucky..once a year!..clearly they're all being ''written off'' by feeders sited too close to the Bl..dy window!

 

[cadillactaste]

Leave your window open!...I've had Robin, Great Tit...and on one occasion Blue Tit being pursued by Sparrow Hawk!...both in one open window..across the fixed..and out the other window..whilst I sat in bed with a ''cuppa'' in my hand. I suppose the answer is place your feeder as far away from the viewing window as possible! This should solve the problem...then I might get Bullfinches in my garden..once upon a time a regular species, now if I'm lucky..once a year!..clearly they're all being ''written off'' by feeders sited too close to the Bl..dy window!

Sadly, the window in question isn't near a feeder...but the window is flanked on the opposite wall with another picture window. So it looks like you can literally fly through. The window clings have prevented far more hits than we used to have...but I still have hits from time to time. The windows in question are picture and do not open...My husband is leery of the one that may need scrapped off in years to come. So I'm still searching. Maybe adding more clings to the window...I read on one site...if you attach a branch to the outside of the window...that can help. They will not attempt to fly through. But that may look odd...with no trees near the window. I can't see the hubby going for that one.

WOW! in one and out the other...that would have been fun to watch~

 

[KenM]

Sadly, the window in question isn't near a feeder...but the window is flanked on the opposite wall with another picture window. So it looks like you can literally fly through. The window clings have prevented far more hits than we used to have...but I still have hits from time to time. The windows in question are picture and do not open...My husband is leery of the one that may need scrapped off in years to come. So I'm still searching. Maybe adding more clings to the window...I read on one site...if you attach a branch to the outside of the window...that can help. They will not attempt to fly through. But that may look odd...with no trees near the window. I can't see the hubby going for that one.

WOW! in one and out the other...that would have been fun to watch~

Picture windows/patio doors are a problem!..the most common ''hit'' species for me is Wood Pigeon..these often leave their ''mask print''...no bodies yet!..If I had a Bullfinch fatality..I would be most concerned! I'm probably lucky, I've had no visible/heard..''impacted'' song birds in 28 years..relative to feeder visits, which is considerable.....Best of luck with ''stickers''.

 

[LeslieR]

Here's the best and cheapest solution of all. I live in a wooded area with large picture windows all around my house. When the leaves are on the trees, there's no problem. But once the leaves fall, the incidents start. There were days when I would hear it happening about every 15 minutes. It just made me sick. I tried the decals and they helped, but I still had several hits everyday. Then I read about scribbling on the inside of the windows with yellow highlighter. I tried it, and the hits [B]completely[/B] stopped. I might have one or two in a 3-4 month period, but that's it. And from the inside, you don't see the highlighter at all, maybe for about 15 minutes when the sun hits it just right. Then when the leaves come back it washes right off. Everyone that has this problem needs to try this.
Leslie in Virgina

 

[cadillactaste]

Here's the best and cheapest solution of all. I live in a wooded area with large picture windows all around my house. When the leaves are on the trees, there's no problem. But once the leaves fall, the incidents start. There were days when I would hear it happening about every 15 minutes. It just made me sick. I tried the decals and they helped, but I still had several hits everyday. Then I read about scribbling on the inside of the windows with yellow highlighter. I tried it, and the hits [B]completely[/B] stopped. I might have one or two in a 3-4 month period, but that's it. And from the inside, you don't see the highlighter at all, maybe for about 15 minutes when the sun hits it just right. Then when the leaves come back it washes right off. Everyone that has this problem needs to try this.
Leslie in Virgina

That's an interesting concept. One could write a really cool quote on the window for the 15 minutes a day that it shows it will look "purposed"...May try this...I've yellow highlighter! So it's only a few minutes of my time. Thanks for the wonderful tip...

 

[MichelleOhio]

Here's another solution...

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/solve/howto/window-strikes.php

 

[fugl]

Here's the best and cheapest solution of all. I live in a wooded area with large picture windows all around my house. When the leaves are on the trees, there's no problem. But once the leaves fall, the incidents start. There were days when I would hear it happening about every 15 minutes. It just made me sick. I tried the decals and they helped, but I still had several hits everyday. Then I read about scribbling on the inside of the windows with yellow highlighter. I tried it, and the hits [B]completely[/B] stopped. I might have one or two in a 3-4 month period, but that's it. And from the inside, you don't see the highlighter at all, maybe for about 15 minutes when the sun hits it just right. Then when the leaves come back it washes right off. Everyone that has this problem needs to try this.

Thanks for this. Sounds like the solution we've all been looking for!