Bluebird behavior concern

[spd...@gmail.com]

My neighbor in Liberty has been concerned about a male Bluebird that repeatedly flies into her windows around the same time each afternoon. She has taped them with big x's; and gently tried to discourage it in other ways. There are trees across the road that are probably reflecting in the windows but this bird has kept at it most days for over a week. I just suggested she hang a sheet inside the window to dampen the reflection. 

Any ideas? 

[Steve Plumb]

The same time each day is odd. For me window collisions have been more random usually when birds get spooked and are trying to escape.

That said, what has worked well for me is to put up a piece of the netting sold for blueberries bushes or cherry trees. It is ~1/2" fine black mesh, noticeable but I don't find it annoying. 

I hung it outside on a frame about 4" from the glass to stop collisions with a 5'x10' set of porch windows. I leave it up as the sunflower feeder is nearby and stocked year round. Haven't had a collision in 3 years. 

Steve

On May 6, 2024, at 12:48 PM, spd...@gmail.com <spd...@gmail.com> wrote:

My neighbor in Liberty has been concerned about a male Bluebird that repeatedly flies into her windows around the same time each afternoon. She has taped them with big x's; and gently tried to discourage it in other ways. There are trees across the road that are probably reflecting in the windows but this bird has kept at it most days for over a week. I just suggested she hang a sheet inside the window to dampen the reflection. 

Any ideas? 

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[Dave Cowan]

We have bluebirds that behave similarly except they appear to be interested mainly in their own reflections. We’ve had good results hanging paracord vertically at 4” intervals (Google Acopian bird savers). An easy diy fix.

On 6 May 2024, at 1:09 PM, Steve Plumb <stevep...@gmail.com> wrote:

The same time each day is odd. For me window collisions have been more random usually when birds get spooked and are trying to escape.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/C99821CC-B81D-4BC8-B1F3-05D18B0852E8%40gmail.com.

[Boots.]

The birds are seeing a reflection of themselves and defending breeding territory from a "rival." If you are planning to obscure the reflection by adding a  hanging or whatever, it has to be on the OUTSIDE of the window. Adding a sheet or something on the inside is like putting silver on the back of a piece of reflective glass, it makes it a mirror!

The same time of day, in my experience is because the light at a particular time of day creates or increases the reflection. 

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[SUSAN YOST]

We have a male cardinal who attacks his reflection in our windows.  He has been doing this daily for months.  I think that he thinks that he is attacking rivals.

Sent from my iPad

On May 6, 2024, at 15:42, Dave Cowan <dcow...@maine.rr.com> wrote:



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[Derek Lovitch]

Hi all,

There are two separate issues being discussed here: collisions and territorial behavior.

Products mentioned such as Acopian Birdsavers and decals are designed to reduce the massive death toll of birds that collide with glass due to an attempt to fly into the reflection of trees or sky. The most effective products for eliminating this issue are keeping your screens up and the 2” x 2” rule of products such as Feather Friendly. Proper feeder placement (within 3 feet of windows are greater than 30 feet are also helpful). Considering a recent study suggest the annual death toll at windows eclipses 2 billion birds a year, absolutely everyone who cares about birds needs to be doing something to reduce this mortality.

It is correct that anything placed INSIDE can significant increase the reflectivity of glass, or at least, make no difference whatsoever.

There are no solutions that alert birds to the presence of glass (eg the taped x that is described or a silhouette of a raptor)…it’s just a matter of breaking up the reflection of trees and sky on the outside surface of glass into spaces smaller than even the smallest birds will try and fly through.

But the issue described here is a bird seeing its reflection (usually males, but also females of some species such as cardinals) and “attacking” the competitor. The timing could be due to the angle of the sun, or nothing more than that’s the time the “competitor” shows up every day! Birds patrol territories at different times, but “somehow” that one competitor is always there at that time of day! It must be dealt with!

This is usually a temporary issue as territories are established, but some birds - like cardinals who are territorial year round - can continue incessantly. 

Screens do the job here, too, but in lieu of them (and once in a while, even with them), try taking a bar of soap and smudging out the reflection area. Cover the window as much as the bird uses - likely in line with a favored perch.  The soap will slowly wash away with rain, and often one or two applications is enough to eliminate the perceived competitor. We have a product at the store that is applied with a spray can and lasts weeks instead of days if the problem persists. But for most everyone, soap does the trick.

Hope that helps,

Derek

Freeport Wild Bird Supply

Sent from my iPhone

On May 6, 2024, at 12:48 PM, spd...@gmail.com <spd...@gmail.com> wrote:

My neighbor in Liberty has been concerned about a male Bluebird that repeatedly flies into her windows around the same time each afternoon. She has taped them with big x's; and gently tried to discourage it in other ways. There are trees across the road that are probably reflecting in the windows but this bird has kept at it most days for over a week. I just suggested she hang a sheet inside the window to dampen the reflection. 

Any ideas? 

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