How to stop birds from flying into the windows? by Birdfeederist

According to the federal scientist’s record, almost 365 to 988 million birds are killed each year in the United States due to building collisions. In the daylight, birds see the reflection of vegetation and other attractive things in the window and crash into the windows. While at night, usually, the migrants crash into the lighted windows.

Firstly, we need to understand why the birds are flying into the windows. It’s actually due to the reflection they see in the window. They think that they are passing through a clear path where a small mistake can be deadly. Almost half of the window accident survivals are dead due to injuries or other animal attacks. Let’s see how we can prevent the birds from flying into the windows.

13 Tips to stop the birds from flying into the windows

1. Add tape strips

You can add the strips to your window’s outside surface to keep the birds away from your windows. The white strap is good as it can withstand wind and rain. The strips of the chart tape are also good to attach with the window. You can cut either by ¼” vertical white strips or 1/8″ horizontal strips to place them on your window. It’s up to you what you will attach with these taps according to your backyard. You can also put the large window decals stickers, suncatchers, mylar strips, masking tape, or other objects on the outside surface. Only one or two large stickers are not enough to prevent collisions. They must cover most of the glass, with narrow spaces so the birds can’t fly through them.

2. Cover the window with tempera paint or soap

You can also apply any coating on your window, which is blocking the sunlight as it will block the birds as well. Tempera paint is good as it’s inexpensive and long-lasting. You can also put any substance to create a film, which enables the birds to see before the window crash. But whenever you are using the soap or paint on your window, make sure these are safe for birds and don’t leave any clear or transparent area on the window.

3. Install the ABC bird tape

Birds see their reflection in the windows and try to attack the window by considering it another bird. ABC tape is a good long-lasting tape, which provides you an easier way to spacing dots on your window. It will be lost for almost four years, at an affordable price. It allows the light in with a partial blur view. So, you can use this tape to get a perfect view of your outdoor from inside the home with maximum safety for the birds. You can also tint the ABC tape to match your home’s color or print the images on it to give some more style to your backyard.

4. Install Zen Curtains

Zen Curtains are also known as Acopian Bird Savers, which are the closely spaced ropes hung down over the windows. These are most like the tape or decals, but they are easier to install. You can also remove these ropes anytime to get the perfect view of your backyard. You can mount these ropes outside of the window for perfect results. Whenever birds fly towards the window, they want to prevent these ropes by changing their direction. The 4 inches spacing is perfect for preventing the birds from window accidents.

5. Try out mosquito screens

A mosquito screen helps to keep the mosquitos away from home and prevents the birds from window accidents. There are different types of screens and nets available, which are beneficial both for birds and mosquitoes. Especially, the mosquito screen made with dark mesh is easily visible to the birds, and the net, which is made with durable, lightweight, and polypropylene. Secure screens are good to use for the windows as they are easy to install and only need 2 inches of space for fixing. The built-in brush of the screen cleans the screen whenever you want.

6. Use a bird net

Bird nets are used to prevent the birds from reaching any specific area. These are more like mosquito screens, which contain durable, lightweight polypropylene material. You can use these types of nets outside of your windows by keeping enough distance that the birds will bounce back before hitting the window glass. A small-mesh netting of around 5/8 inches is best for the birds to bounce off without any harm. You can simply use net clips, hooks, or a staple gun to install the bird nets.

7. Install one-way transparent film

Birds can’t see the glass, which is transparent. So, you can install a transparent film over your window like a collide scape, which allows the people to see through the windows from inside but look opaque to everyone else. These types of films reduce the amount of light that comes into the window and good to reduce your cooling cost.

You need to properly clean, rinse, and measure the surface before installing the film. After that, damp the whole exterior surface with a hose or spray bottle for better adhesion.

8. Use external sunshade or awnings

External sun shades or awnings are good to block the reflection of the sunlight. These sun shades provide support to the two different window exterior systems. The manual crank system raises or lowers the shade depending on the crank rotation. You need to properly care for and clean your system for the perfect polar shade functioning. Make sure to remove the light dust and debris regularly.

9. Move the birdbaths and feeders

Birdbaths and the window feeder’s location also play an important role in the bird’s collisions. Make sure to place the feeder within the 3 feet of windows or more than feet away to minimize the window collisions. Birds usually don’t recognize the window from long distances. A window bird feeder is one of the best ways to protect the birds from collisions. You can attach these feeders directly with the window glass to make the environment safe for the birds.

10. Try out Feather Guard

You can also set an object as a warning to prevent the birds from colliding with your house. Feather Guard window warning is the best option for this. These are perfect for directing the birds away from an area using their natural tendencies. Feather Guard is made with the bird feather, which are strung about 8 inches on a fishing line. These lines are vertically placed on the windows, which repel the birds from flying into the windows. Birds think that there is a predator in the area, where they found any loose feathers.

11. Install motion sensor lights

Motion light sensors are especially beneficial for night migrants as the lights disorient them. The red and white lights usually disrupt the birds more as they contain visible long-wavelength than the blue and green light. You can use the lights that are shielded to control the lights spread than the globe-type models, which spread the lights everywhere. The motion sensor is the best choice for this purpose, ensuring that the lights are no longer on unnecessarily.

12. Install external shutters

Installing external shutters is a proven method to stop bird-window accidents. You can close the shutters anytime to prevent the birds from window collisions. You can also open the shutter when you are at home to enjoy the outside view. These are also good to converse the energy to keep your house warm during winter. You can simply install the shutters on the exterior wall with a drill and

13. Angled glass

Angling the window glass also helps the birds to prevent window collisions. You can simply angle the window downward at 20 degrees such that the sky and trees are not reflected in the window glass.

How to help the birds who have flown into the window

• Whenever you found a bird that collides with the window, gently catch it with a towel and place it on a paper bag or cardboard box. Securely closed the bag or cardboard.
• Take the bird away from the activity in any quiet, warm, and dark place.
• Check the bird every 30 minutes without touching it.
• If the bird is recovering, take it outside and leave it alone. See if the bird can fly; it’s ok. Otherwise, take it back.
• If the bird is not recovering within a few hours, try to contact the wildlife rehabilitator.