Bird Deterrents that Reduce Window Strikes

One of the joys of creating a lovely garden is the time spent sitting on the nearby porch watching the many songbirds it attracts.  If a water fountain or birdbath is nearby, bird watchers will have the additional thrill of seeing the birds’ antics in the water. This water scene can easily be a double-edged sword.  Large windows looking out over the garden can reflect the images outside; fooling birds into thinking there is fun ahead.  Bird lovers are often saddened to find an injured or dead bird laying on the ground just beneath their window; the victim of an exuberant flier smashing directly and at full speed, into the immovable window.  Not every incident can be avoided, but there are some simple bird deterrents that can be put in place to reduce the number of events.

Simple First Steps

It is good to think about placement of the water feature in your garden or lawn. Locating a fountain or birdbath out of the line of reflection in the window, or very close to the window is a simple and cost effective bird deterrent for this situation.  Removing the image from the window view will send the birds flying instead to the real water source and not it’s reflection.  Water sources placed close to windows tend to decrease the window strike incidents since birds will more likely fly directly to the water source and not past it to the reflection.  If they do overshoot their target, their speed is normally slower as they approach the water. Birds hitting windows at a slower speed may be dazed and temporarily confused, but not seriously injured.

Two Steps Beyond

Covering your windows with opaque coatings will defeat the purpose of your lovely window/garden view.  Let’s face it, windows bring in light and allow us to view nature. There is no reason to live in the dark and miss out on the beauty outside.  One useful bird deterrent that can work to reduce bird strikes is to apply static cling decals to the windows. Window Alert decals applied every two to three square feet of exterior glass surface work to reflect ultraviolet light; warning the bird that this is not a pass through. What’s even better, the decals are virtually invisible when looking from the inside out. This solution is great because it protects the birds while allowing viewers to enjoy the indoor benefits of light-enhancing windows.

Lightweight bird netting may also be stretched tightly across a window.  The netting is invisible at a distance, and can serve to interfere with the reflective nature of the window. Also, if the bird still flies toward the window, the netting held taught a few inches from the solid glass panel, can help reduce the impact and potential serious injury.

A professional bird control retailer, or ornithologist can be contacted to help determine which window alert or bird netting is best for your situation.  One or more of these solutions put into practice will dramatically improve the safety of your homemade songbird sanctuary.