How To Stop Birds From Flying Into Windows | Birds Advice

Do you know around 975 million birds die in North America each year to hit glass windows and buildings? You may have experienced a heartbreaking incident of a bird hitting your window, and you may want to learn how to stop birds from flying into windows.

Before learning about preventing birds from window collisions, you should know why birds fly into windows. Birds cannot usually identify clear or transparent glass windows. They think that there is no glass window and they can fly into it.

Maybe they notice the reflection of themselves and assume that there is another bird. Or, they see the clear sky and green trees of their side and think that they are allowed to perch on them. Due to these reasons, birds get hit glass windows.

In this article, we are now going to talk about how to prevent birds from hitting windows. We will also describe some myths and facts about discouraging birds from window strikes. Without further ado, let’s get into the topic.

Handy Hint: To read more about birds, visit our other article about where do birds go at night [here] and how to make homemade suet for birds [here]

How To Keep Birds From Hitting Windows

When it comes to preventing bird window collisions, you may think you need to apply solutions to all your home windows. However, the reality might be different. You may need to address a small number of windows because they could only be the deadliest ones.

If you fix those windows, you can solve the majority of the issues. The deadliest windows could be any window of your home where you have found an injured or dead bird or heard a sound of hitting bird.

You can also address large windows where birds can see the reflection of themselves, the sky, or trees. Windows near bird feeders and baths could also be risky.

Once you have identified all the hazardous windows, fix them with any suitable method (we are going to describe some useful techniques below). Then, walk around your house regularly and find out any new window prone to hitting flying birds. In this way, you can save many birds’ life.

Related Blog: How Do Birds Have Sex?

Modifying The Windows Outside

1. Use Tape Strips: Using tape strips on windows can prevent birds from flying into them. In this case, add any-visible-color tape to the windows 4 inches apart (1 inch for black tape) vertically. This will let birds know there is a glass window available and they are not allowed to fly into them.

You can find tape strips at any nearby pet stores, or purchase one from Amazon by clicking this link.

2. Attach the ABC Bird Tape to the Windows: To prevent birds from collisions, ABC bird tape could be what you are looking for. This long-lasting piece of stuff offers easier installation across your windows, creating moderately obscure views. As a consequence, birds won’t fly into your windows and become safe from window collisions.

3. Cover the Window with Soap: You can deter birds from window collisions by covering a layer of soap on windows outside. This will make a film visible to birds. Remember that you need to put soap on the windows multiple times a week so that the film doesn’t wash away.

4. Paint the Windows with Tempera Paint: Apply tempera paint to the windows, ensuring that you cover almost all the surfaces of your windows so that there is no transparent area. You can take it as a fun, DIY project, creating bright patterns.

5. Mount Mosquito Screens: Mosquito screens can not only keep mosquitoes and insects away from your home but also be useful to discourage birds from collisions with your windows. Keep in mind that the mosquito screen is made of durable, lightweight polypropylene dark mesh to be visible to birds.

You can buy a mosquito screen at your nearby shops, or you can purchase one from Amazon by clicking this link.

6. Install External Sun Shades or Shutters: You can install sun shades because they will block sunlight. As a result, birds can easily spot the glass and don’t fly into them. Besides, you can consider installing external shutters on your windows. When you are not at home, you can close the shutters so that birds cannot hit your windows.

Note: External shutters can keep your house cool by blocking sunlight.

7. Place White Adhesive Dots on Windows: To stop birds from coming to your windows, you can place white adhesive dots on your windows in a grid pattern. Apply the dots to your windows by yourself or call a professional for installation.

These adhesives will stick well on your windows all-year-round without making any problem on your window glass. Purchase these adhesives at your nearby local stores or order from Amazon.

8. Set an Ultraviolet, Patterned Glass on Your Window: You can change your current window glass with an ultraviolet, patterned glass. This glass features crisscross patterns. Humans cannot see the patterns, but birds can find the glass visible. Although this could cost a lot, this is a permanent solution. Ultraviolet, patterned glasses are available in specialty home stores, or you can purchase them online.

Adjusting Your Home Inside

1. Think about Bird-Safety When You Remodel or Build: When you are building a house or remodeling your current house, you should think about your feathered friends’ safety. You can install different glass types on your windows, such as fritted glass, angled glass, UV reflective glass, and etched or sandblasted glass.

2. Keep Your Plants Away from Your Windows: If you have many plants inside your house near your windows, keep them 4 to 5 feet away from the windows. Unless you move them, birds may view them as shelters through the windows. As a result, they may fly into windows and get injured or die due to hitting the windows.

3. Keep Curtains and Blinds Closed As Much As Possible: To deter birds from hitting windows, you can close curtains and blinds all day long. If you keep them closed, birds will spot that there is a glass window. Try to keep your vertical blinds halfway or thoroughly closed in the daytime.

4. Turn Any Lights off When Not in Use: Switch any lights of your house off when they are not in use, especially at night. Therefore, birds can identify that there is a glass window and won’t fly into your window.

5. Install Slightly Tilted Windows: When installing windows in your home, you should choose slightly tilted windows because they remain vertical and slightly downward. Consequently, birds see the reflection of the ground more and become discouraged from hitting windows.

Using Useful Products And Objects

1. Install Zen Curtains/ Acopian BirdSavers: To deter bird crashes from your windows, you can Acopian BirdSavers, also known as Zen Curtains. They are designed with vertically spaced cords that prevent birds from hitting your windows.

2. Hang Motion Sensor Lights In front of the Windows:You can hang motion sensor lights before windows to avoid nighttime collisions of birds. White or red lights usually have long-wavelength radiation that is visible to nocturnal birds. Therefore, these birds keep themselves away from window collisions.

3. Position Feeders and Baths 3 Feet Away: Keeping bird feeders and baths 3 feet (0.91 meters) away from your windows can deter them from window collisions. If you position bird baths and feeders close to windows, birds will be more likely to fly into them.

4. Mount Wind Chimes Outside of the Windows: Place wind chimes outside of your windows. When the wind touches the chimes, they will make noise. So, birds remain alert to avoid window collisions. Besides, you can create a DIY wind chime with several pieces of discs or old aluminum pie plates.

5. Hang Some Tree Branches: Finally, you can hang some tree branches outside of the windows to bring a natural look. Suspend the branches in rows in front of the windows to deter your feathered friends from hitting your windows.

Preventing Bird Window Strikes: Myths And Facts

• Myth – 1: Black Stickers are More Visible than Others: This is not true. The fact is black stickers, or decals cannot make enough contrast to create the reflection of sunlight. That’s why you should avoid using black stickers. Instead, choose wild color stickers, such as orange, red, green, or yellow.

• Myth – 2: The Art of Invasive Birds Will Scare Smaller Birds: Although this sounds good, this is false. Nobody can find any evidence that birds are scared to notice the art of invasive birds on windows.

• Myth – 3: One Sticker is Enough for One Window: This is incorrect. Birds usually fly through very narrow spaces, even between a couple of tree branches. If you attach only one sticker on one window, birds will still try to fly into it. So, you should place stickers 10 to 15 cm apart.

• Myth – 4: Window Stickers are not Beautiful: This is slightly incorrect. There are a lot of well-designed stickers available on the market today. You just need to choose ones from your nearby shops, making sure that they fit your preference and requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What Do I Do If A Bird Hits The Window?

If you want to help an injured bird that hits your window, keep it in a cushioned, cardboard box for 15 to 30 minutes. Check the bird whether it responds or not. If it does, leave it for flying. Otherwise, call a local bird rescue organization to take care of the bird.

2. Why Is A Bird Repeatedly Flying Into My Window?

The bird may see its reflection on your window, thinking that there is another bird. It could also be that the bird doesn’t spot the window.

3. Can An Ultraviolet Marker Prevent Birds From Hitting Windows?

An ultraviolet marker could prevent birds from window collisions because birds can clearly see the reflection of marks. But, if you mark your windows too wide, birds could still collide.

Conclusion

Collisions with glass are becoming a growing problem nowadays, as cities and towns are being expanded. However, many people are now building new houses with keeping bird-safety in mind. Even many important buildings have colored or striped glasses to deter birds from hitting windows.

If you want to be a part of it, you can set frosted or striped glasses on your windows. But, if you already have a house, remodel it or use any mentioned-above technique to save your feathered friends from unwanted window collisions.