How do you keep birds from flying into gable windows?

Carrie
by Carrie
We just built a sunroom and have had several birds fly right into the windows.
  18 answers
  • Hudson Designs Hudson Designs on Feb 09, 2011
    You might try hanging a wind shock up to stop them. It's the refection probably draws them to it.
  • Carrie Carrie on Oct 28, 2011
    I've used the clips that you can stick on anything and they come off when you want to hold down the black netting used in gardens to keep birds away. I've stretched the netting along the entire gable window area. That alone didn't do enough so I've tied on to the netting thin strips of bright ribbon each a few feet long. While it may not be the prettiest thing no one really notices much and even if they do I don't care, it saves the birds and that's what matters.
  • Carrie Carrie on Nov 02, 2011
    Thank you Hudson Designs for your idea I appreciate it. The width of the area I believe is too much for the airsock. I think for now I'll keep the net because it seems to be working while I look for something not so noticeable.
  • Carrie Carrie on Nov 02, 2011
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Nov 03, 2011
    A friend who has large windows in a bird-filled area uses decals that look like spider webs. They are pretty inconspicuous but apparently birds inherently keep an eye out for such things. http://www.drollyankees.com/hproducts/accessories/Warning-Web-WWM.html
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Nov 03, 2011
    I had a buddy apply that "fake snow" to a few of his windows. ( This is the aerosol can of snow that people use on Christmas trees) It was enough to knock the "glare and reflection" down but still allow him to see out .
  • Building on the comments from Douglas and KMS. you might look into finding some art decals to put on the windows. Something that would look nice there, yet not take away from the purpose of the sunroom.
  • Carrie Carrie on Nov 03, 2011
    Thank you everyone, I will give the decals a try I think!
  • Carrie Carrie on Nov 03, 2011
    I will try the decals and I'm going to take a class on mosaics to make one myself to hang in the windows.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Nov 04, 2011
    Good luck, Carrie. We'd love to see your mosaic when you "graduate."
  • Agreed, please give us some pics of your creation!
  • Carrie Carrie on Nov 07, 2011
    Thank you for the suggestions but this doesn't answer my question because the gable windows we are having a problem with are large windows and we want to be able to look up at the sky at night to look up at the stars with as well as letting the bright sunshine in during the day. Thank you very much for all of the suggestions so far.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Nov 07, 2011
    Carrie, you do not need to cover the windows with decals. You just need a couple of them. They will not interfere with looking out your window.
  • Carrie Carrie on Nov 07, 2011
    Thank you Mr. Hunt for that information, I thought I'd have to cover a great deal of the window to stop the reflections of all of the trees, etc. the birds think they are flying in to. Oh my goodness, maybe I should have mentioned that we have woods in the back of the house so that is what the birds see. Will that make a difference?
  • Sherrie S Sherrie S on Nov 07, 2011
    I have a "sun room" with 14 large windows and had the same problem with birds flying into the windows. I purchased see through decorative decals. You only need water to keep them in place. They work as I haven't seen one bird crash into the windows. The product is called windowalert. I've had it about 3 years. They look nice.
  • Carrie Carrie on Nov 07, 2011
    I will certainly give these a try, thank you so much Sherrie!
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Nov 08, 2011
    Good luck, Carrie. Let us know how you fare. All these products rely on the fact that birds have a much more heightened sense of sight than we do.
  • Sherrie S Sherrie S on Nov 08, 2011
    You're welcome Carrie. I was really happy when I replaced all of the sun room windows and I kept the decals and then just wet them an put them on the new windows. They sort of look like etched glass (from a distance).