Nearly one billion birds in the United States are injured or killed each year due to collisions with windows. The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is at the forefront of efforts to prevent bird collisions by promoting bird-friendly advocacy and building design courses. In this article, we will explore how ABC is working to reduce bird-window collisions, highlight effective bird-safe window solutions, and discuss strategies to avoid ineffective methods.
Understanding Bird Collisions
Collisions occur when birds mistake reflections in windows for open space or perceive habitat behind glass. To prevent these accidents, it is crucial to make windows visible to birds by using various methods, such as markings or barriers.
Guidelines for Implementing Bird-Safe Window Solutions
When addressing bird-window collisions, it is essential to follow these guidelines:
- Assess the hazard: Examine windows from different angles and times of day to identify areas that reflect habitat or create a clear view that could confuse birds. Document collision locations to prioritize fixing those windows first.
- Apply patterns on the outside: To be effective, patterns should be applied to the exterior of the glass. If placed on the interior, they may be obscured by reflections, rendering them ineffective.
- Consider bird size and spacing: Birds can fly through small spaces, so patterns meant to deter them should be close enough together to eliminate the perception of a passageway. The recommended spacing is four inches horizontally and two inches vertically. For smaller birds like hummingbirds, reduce the spacing to two inches by two inches.
- Opt for high contrast: Decals or paint should have high contrast to increase visibility for birds. Research indicates that white stripes tend to work well.
Window Solutions Proven to Deter Bird Collisions
The American Bird Conservancy provides a range of bird-safe window solutions. Here are a few effective methods:
- Dirtying and clouding windows: Allowing windows to get dirty or using soap and water to cloud them reduces reflections and prevents collisions.
- Window screens: Interestingly, exterior window screens obscure reflections and serve as a visual barrier for birds.
- Mural decorations: Creating mural decorations on windows is a fun and artistic way to deter bird collisions while adding beauty to your space.
- Painted windows: Using inexpensive and long-lasting tempera paint, showcase your art on windows to prevent collisions.
- Parachute cord installation: Hanging parachute cords spaced four inches apart on the outside of windows offers an effective barrier. Acopian BirdSavers provides premade options and DIY instructions.
- Window decals and film: Various films and appliques applied to the exterior of windows can prevent collisions. Companies like Solyx® and Feather Friendly® offer striped patterns and adhesive dot patterns, respectively. CollidEscape tapes can be customized for your preferred pattern.
Methods to Avoid
While some methods may seem promising, they have proven ineffective in deterring bird collisions. Here are a few strategies to avoid:
- Drawing curtains or blinds: This method may be effective for preventing birds from attempting to fly toward habitat behind glass, but it is not useful for addressing reflective glass. Blinds or curtains can sometimes worsen the issue.
- Hawk silhouettes: Single hawk silhouette stickers in the middle of a window do not deter birds. If you already have a hawk sticker, cutting it into pieces and spacing them two inches by about four inches apart across the entire window may be more effective.
- Noise deterrents: Distress calls or sounds of birds of prey have not shown significant success in deterring collisions. Birds quickly habituate to these sounds, rendering them ineffective.
The American Bird Conservancy is dedicated to reducing bird-window collisions through its bird-friendly advocacy and building design courses.
By implementing bird-safe window solutions and avoiding ineffective methods, we can help protect our feathered friends and preserve their populations. To learn more about the work of the American Bird Conservancy and explore comprehensive lists of tested products, visit their Bird-Smart Glass site. Let’s all work together to make our homes and cities safer for birds!