Protecting Birds One Window at a Time
Last year we had over a dozen bird strikes on our windows. Sadly, at least seven of these lovely creatures died immediately, and who knows how many struggled with injuries for some time after hitting the windows. I went online to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for help.
They recommended some options, one of which was placing vertical bars across the glass. Well, being basically a frugal (cheap) person, I cast about for something that would be similar, inexpensive and easy, yet not permanent. Not permanent in case it didn't work.
We are in a heavily wooded area, near water, so the trees and bushes are loaded with nesting birds. American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Robin, Warblers, Downy Woodpeckers to name a few, are some of the birds that have died because of our windows.
The bird site recommended black vertical lines. I was lucky to find a ball of very thick black yarn and figured this would work out .
This is how thick it is.
At first I hung the yard from the top using a staple gun and left them loose at the bottom. Well before an hour went by the wind had whipped them into a tangle... not too effective!
So I knotted the ends and stapled them down to the bottom of the windows.
I know it looks a little like prison cell bars, but we got used to them very quickly.
I got both sides of the house done last fall and all through this spring, when the birds are most active, we have had NOT ONE bird hit a window. It may look a little weird but to me it is well worth it. Cleaning the windows is only slightly more challenging and because the yarn has some give, I can get my hands in there very well.
Now he's got a much better chance for survival!
Read this guide on how to prevent birds from hitting windows!
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I will have to look at doing something like this. We love watching the birds at the feeders from our breakfast nook. But we have had many casualties, i think because the birds mistake the reflection of the trees in the window glass for real ones.
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Brava, Choyce!
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Thank you!
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