Ever came across a lovely bird dead outside your house? It’s likely that it smashed into your window and never ever recovered. For every dead bird you discover, simply picture how many of them were snatched up by a cat or even pulled in the brush by other critters. Around the globe, window collisions lead to the death of around one billion birds each year. With spring migration already underway within the northern hemisphere, today is as good as ever to make your residence bird safe.

Most bird species are at risk, though migratory songbirds tend to be the primary victims. Many are killed immediately, though others give in when they’re shocked and fall victim to gulls, rats, or maybe several other predators.

Private homes in addition to skyscrapers jeopardize birds. Many property owners know the annoying thump that implies a bird has struck a window; many have likewise discovered bird carcasses in close proximity to their windows. Feathered creatures don’t see the glass as a rigid barrier; they notice reflections of sky or trees or even a fly-through to an open space beyond.

This ought to come as no surprise since even humans sometimes walk into glass doors. For an individual it’s simply embarrassing, but for a bird, it’s usually deadly.

Homeowners are able to lessen the collisions and also save birdlife in a variety of ways:

• Bird feeders must be positioned within 3 feet of a windowpane so that birds heading to the feeder can’t get up sufficient flying velocity to injure themselves.
• Adding a design on a windowpane whereby birds are found to hit can be inexpensive and uncomplicated. Patterns with negative space no higher than four by two inches can prove to be extremely helpful.
• Decals of hawks or maybe other raptors aren’t especially effective unless of course the decals are positioned very strategically – it does not actually matter whether they’re of birds of prey or maybe an abstract style.

Several suggestions for seasonal or temporary fixes:

• Set vertical tape strips four inches apart at maximum or perhaps horizontal strips a maximum of two inches apart. Bird tapes are durable and much more pleasing to the eyes than electrical tape or masking tape. Make sure you put the tape on the exterior of the window for optimum efficiency.
• Soap windows, or maybe utilize window paints or perhaps tempera paints to block the majority of the window.
• Purchase or even make your own personal window gel clings. Make sure to space them at most four inches apart horizontally and two inches apart vertically.
• Draw screens and relocate indoor plants far from windows. This won’t do the job if there are harsh reflections of the yard in the window.

For more long-lasting solutions, ones which prevent birds from striking windows or even lessen transparency and reflectivity, try the following suggestions:

• Put in an opaque or frosted window film. This is a film which seems opaque from the exterior but permits views of the outdoors. Films are best when used on the exterior of the window. Most films aren’t guaranteed when placed over the exterior covering, but most are fairly durable on these surfaces.
• Install unobtrusive netting in front of windows. You can find these nettings created specifically for different types of facades and glass windows.
• Install awnings, latticework, louvers, and shades on your windows.
• Consider adding mesh window screens.

Maintaining your windows

Watching nature and birds from inside your house is surely a treat. Bird fatalities are often an unintentional result of home design. But with a little imagination and creativity, you ought to be able to enjoy the view of the birds flying outside your home while keeping them safe at the same time.