Is there any way to keep birds from flying into windows?

[JadenLayne]

We have large windows all the way across the back of our house.

Since spring is here, birds are out in droves. Well just sitting here for the last 2 hours there have been 3 birds fly into the windows. They fly off but I'm afriad one is going to hit so hard it kills him.

Any tips on something to do to keep them from flying into the windows? We have woods behind our house and birds are everywhere.

Thank you

 

[goofy4tink]

The Audobon Society suggested that I put up strips of fabric or strips of plastic bags on the windows. Seems that the birds see themselves in the reflection and think it's another bird encroaching on their territory (or some such thing) and they fly at the 'other' bird full tilt to make it leave. Of course, they then hit the window. Not a good sound!!! I had one bird do that. I found him lying on the deck. So, I put him in a papertowel, and put him out in the back garden. Imagine my surprise when that papertowel lifted up and flew away!!!!
The strips did help a lot. Of course they made my house look like a Halloween house for awhile.

 

[becka]

Open the windows

Sorry I just couldn't resist. I really am not sure there is a whole lot you can do but anything that cuts down on the reflectivity of the glass might be worth a try.

 

[Beth76]

Don't wash them.

 

[JadenLayne]

LOL! Thats a good idea Beth!

Diane just a strip of fabric on the window? That looks weird I bet. I did some googling and thought maybe the little window hanging things would work.

 

[bigmerle1966]

We have that happen all the time here at work, the windows have refelective coating on them. It happens a couple times a week during this time of the year. We will hear this loud thunk as they hit the window, they just fly away. We also have certain birds that fall in love with their reflections and will sit on the outside sills and peck and sing at the reflection.

 

[liamsaunt]

We used to have sliders across the back of the house I lived in when I was a kid, and birds would fly into it all of the time. Unfortunately, most of them ended up dying. It was really gross and sad. For some reason, crows were the most frequent victim. My Mom ended up placing removable plastic decals in various spots on the sliders, and hung mobiles and wind chimes from the slider overhang. After that, we had less birds fly into it.

Of course, after they stopped flying into the sliders, they started flying into the windows on the other side! I'd be playing in my room, and then hear a huge crash, go outside, and find a dead bird in the bush. I don't know, maybe it was just something about my house that attracted the birds.

 

[Cantw8]

We have that happen all the time here at work, the windows have refelective coating on them. It happens a couple times a week during this time of the year. We will hear this loud thunk as they hit the window, they just fly away. We also have certain birds that fall in love with their reflections and will sit on the outside sills and peck and sing at the reflection.

I work with alot of women like that ...my office windows are reflective on the outside, so you can't see in. They look like giant mirrors. I can't tell you how many picks, digs, licks and general admiration I see in one day Fabric strips, eh?? I'll try

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

We had the same problem and found window clings worked if you didn't want to put fabric up....

Eventually, we got oe of the stained glas swindow kits and ran a strip of it along the middle of the glass. Worked well. Looked nice-Mom hated having Valentine's Day clings up at all times of the year- but a little more perm.

 

[bigmerle1966]

I work with alot of women like that ...my office windows are reflective on the outside, so you can't see in. They look like giant mirrors. I can't tell you how many picks, digs, licks and general admiration I see in one day Fabric strips, eh?? I'll try

OMG. Thank goodness my windows are about 15 feet in the air. I always have to remember as the sun goes down to watch what I am doing because the windows can be seen through, don't want anyone to think I'm a weirdo.