How to stop birds flying into glass windows

blue tit Caroline Smith

Caroline Smith

Each year, billions of birds worldwide die, after flying into glass windows (or greenhouses). Modern buildings use more glass, so this has increased risks. Glass reflects the sky, trees and gardens. Many birds get confused, and think they are flying into open space or vegetation.

Bright lights at night also confuse birds, making collisions more of a risk.

The good news is that a few simple changes can help. You can also make your neighbourhoods more bird-friendly by planting hedges, shrubs and trees. Natural habitats encourage birds to stay in safer areas, instead of busy urban environments.

Turn off lights when not in use

Turning off lights won’t stop all bird strikes. But it does help:

  • Turn off indoor and outdoor lights when not needed.
  • Close curtains or blinds at night.
  • Use desk lamps instead of lighting whole rooms.

Keep indoor plants away from windows

Birds may see indoor plants through a window, and get confused, thinking the plants are outside. So keep houseplants (and flowers( away from windows, where birds can see them.

Check plants (for indoors or outdoors) are safe near animal friends, for pet-friendly gardens. Some  indoor plants (including lilies and sago palm) are toxic, even brushing a tail against them.

Place bird feeders carefully

  • Birds Canada recommends placing feeders within 1 m/3 ft of a window, so birds cannot build up enough momentum to fly into windows.
  • Environment Canada notes that the evidence for ‘farther than 10m/30ft’ is not as firm as people often claim. Cornell says the feeder-distance rule should not replace making glass bird-friendly.
  • Avoid landscaping walkways which could funnel birds towards glass.
  • Place feeders at least 5/6 feet above ground (away from cats) and sheltered from strong wind/sun, with a 360-degree view to spot predators.

Make windows easier for birds to see

Feather Friendly bird visual markers

Those window decals you find in shops, don’t really work unless they cover most of the glass. Then you would not be able to see out of them.

A better option is Feather Friendly visual markers (sold in the UK at Etsy).. These small markers are applied to the outside of windows. They let in plenty of light, but birds can see that the glass is a solid surface. They are simple to install and can save the birds!

Choose bird-friendly glass

Bird-friendly glass is one part of bird-safe design, especially new builds. BirdDivert is a UV-based bird collision deterrent treatment applied to glass. It’s like an UV-based alternative to Feather Friendly visual markers (so birds can see it, but it does not affect light for humans).

Other solutions are films, markers, screens, and other treatments. For more info on ‘bird-friendly glass’ visit Pilkington and Guardian Glass.

Start a local FLAP program

FLAP (fatal light awareness programs are started by local communities to reduce bird deaths. They encourage local people to turn off lights when not in use, and promote safer window treatments like above.

You can order a starter pack and take a local survey. Then get people on board to share information and solutions to help. With neighbours, schools and businesses.

What to do if a bird hits a glass window

If you find a stunned bird:

  1. Gently place it in a ventilated cardboard box or a clean paper bag with air holes. Line with a soft cloth (no tassels). If you have no box, a clean paper bag with ventilation holes will do.
  2. Keep the container somewhere dark, quiet and warm.
  3. Do not give the bird food or water.
  4. As stunned birds may still have internal injuries if they fly away, a safer recommendation is to place the bird in a dark ventilated container and contact a licensed wildlife rehabiliator or local wildlife rescue as soon as possible. Find more info at FLAP.

Learn more to prevent bird strike

  • Solid Air explains practical ways to prevent bird-window collisions. It draws on more than 40 years of research and is especially useful for architects, builders, and councils.
  • The Bird-Friendly City shares proven ideas for making towns and cities safer for birds, including real-life examples of successful projects.

Similar Posts