Grace from Costa Rica asked:


I have taped shilouttes of large black birds on the windows to scare them off, but it´s not working. Is there anything else that I can tape or maybe a sound system that issues sound waves to keep them away. Anything?
ULYSSES

2 Responses to “How do I prevent birds from crashing against my home´s large windows?”

1. nickipettis on December 15th, 2009 2:43 am

   the pictures on the window need to be predators, not just any birds. so try owl silhouettes..

   you can also hang things that move in the wind, like wind spinners or chimes that glitter, like aluminum foil.

2. margecutter on December 18th, 2009 2:32 pm

   Here is an excellent website that addresses the problem of window strikes:

   “Birds collide with glass for four reasons: either they
   can not see the glass at all because it is transparent (especially a problem with two windows or a window and mirror opposite each other, creating a”corridor effect”);
   see a reflection of the outdoors, and try to fly through what looks like unobstructed open space (the “mirror effect”); or
   are attempting to defend their territory from a perceived intruder - their own reflection (”territorial strikes”). Bluebirds, cardinals, and robins typically do this. Territorial window strikes are more common in springtime, but may occur year round. During the fall, male birds often get a second flush of testosterone (called “gonadal recrudescence”); some bluebirds are just “nosey,” and will cling to a window screen or will come to the window to beg for mealworms, but do not crash headlong into it.

   There are a number of options to prevent birds from striking windows. If the problem is the reflection on the exterior of the window, changes inside won’t help. Keeping blinds or shades drawn, or putting up a curtain inside rarely solves the problem, unless you are dealing with the corridor effect. In that case, light colored drapes or partially closed vertical blinds on sliding glass doors when the sun is shining direction on the window may help break up the reflection, or closing or covering the opposite window or moving a mirror may help. Otherwise, choose from the following methods - moving attractants ; dulling/breaking up the reflection, or putting up something that moves or is scary. Also see plexiglass sides on bird feeders.

   If you have a large house or lots of large windows/glass doors, you are may have a correspondingly large problem - especially if the bird has already developed the habit of going from window to window. Usually the bird will have a “favorite” window (e.g., facing east); deploy your countermeasures there first.”

   See website for more suggestions.