Keeping Birds From Crashing into Windows

Here are some handy tips for keeping wild birds from flying and crashing into windows. After hitting the window, birds can be stunned, break a wing, or even be killed. Not all of these ideas work for all people. It depends on the house, birds, and surroundings. So experiment. If one tip doesn't work, try another.

• Keep your windows dirty. :-) The reason the birds fly into windows is because they see the reflections in the glass and don't know about the concept of "glass windows." They think they can fly to whatever is reflected, and then hit the window. Dirt reduces reflections.
• Put a screen on the window.
• Thumb tack shade cloth over the window. Shade cloth can be bought at hardware stores or garden centers. It's a plastic mesh that is easy for you to see through and will keep the windows from having reflections.
• Thumb tack string diagonally across the windows, from corner to corner. Do this for all corners. Then tie strips of cloth or surveyor's tape (colored plastic strips) to the string so that the ends flutter in the wind. You are creating a scarecrow effect on the window.
• Relocate any birdfeeders and houses further from the house so the birds do not see their reflections as much.

Remember it is NOT what is inside your house that is causing the problem. Keeping your blinds or shades drawn, or putting up a curtain inside will not solve the problem. Changing whatever is inside will not reduce the reflection on the outside. The birds are seeing the reflection of the sky, clouds, trees, birdfeeders, and other things outside. They think they can fly to those things, not realizing there is only a window.