Window Issue

[Garrett Erickson-Harris]

Does anyone have any reliable ways to "bird-proof" windows? Responses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Dave Cowan]

Hi Garrett, excellent topic. We looked at a variety of options and I’m sure you’ll hear from many others. We are currently using black plastic dear mesh simply thumbtacked to the outside window trim. We don’t necessarily cover the entire window, but enough to break up the opening and make the general area more visible. The mesh also acts as a cushion on those rare occasions when a bird flies into it. We’ve gotten used to the effect on visibility an we hardly notice it’s there most of the time.

Sent from my iPhone

On May 21, 2018, at 7:03 AM, Garrett Erickson-Harris <maine...@gmail.com> wrote:

Does anyone have any reliable ways to "bird-proof" windows? Responses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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[Leslie]

There are many organizations working to minimize bird window strikes. Googling will provide many links, but a few are below. 

I know several people who have installed vertical cords inside their windows, which work well and don’t impair their view. You can buy them or make your own. https://www.birdsavers.com/

Canada’s Fatal Light Awareness program was begun in 1993: https://www.flap.org/bird-safe-buildings.php

American Bird Conservancy: https://abcbirds.org/program/glass-collisions/bird-friendly-window-solutions/

Cornell has a PDF on this subject: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/notes/BirdNote10_Windows.pdf

Here in Baltimore MD there is a program called Lights Out Baltimore, which has volunteers on the streets early mornings during migration to pick up dead and injured birds. http://www.lightsoutbaltimore.org/

The most egregious instance of an organization NOT willing to do anything is the Minnesota Vikings, who have constructed a massive glass structure on the Mississippi flyway. Minneapolis Audubon recognized that this would be a problem long before the stadium was built but the architect and the team were unwilling to make any changes. You’ll see many articles about the controversy if you google it. There is a Facebook page called Make the New Vikings Stadium Bird-Safe: https://www.facebook.com/birdsafestadium/

Allowing windows to be dirty, having screens outside the glass, and keeping curtains closed are easy but not always practical ways to minimize strikes. We have strips of masking tape on the lower halves of our sliding glass deck doors which had been removed during a post-fire cleanup. When we were back in the house and began feeding birds again, almost immediately several birds flew into the glass doors. (The survivors went to a local rehabber.) We put the tape back up and the strikes stopped. 

Thanks for your willingness to do something about this serious problem which kills millions of birds every year!

Leslie Starr

Baltimore 

On May 21, 2018, at 7:03 AM, Garrett Erickson-Harris <maine...@gmail.com> wrote:

Does anyone have any reliable ways to "bird-proof" windows? Responses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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