Leslie Massey
In Australia, countless birds are injured or killed each year from colliding with windows. Birds cannot recognise glass as a solid object and may mistake it for a safe flight path or confuse it with a reflection of the sky or surrounding vegetation. To prevent birds from flying into windows, it is recommended to cover the outside of windows with physical barriers such as shade cloth, netting, or opaque screens to remove any reflection. Other methods include placing bird feeders and baths within 50 cm of windows, using anti-collision stickers, and hanging objects such as rope or balloons in front of windows to impair the bird's flight path.
How to stop birds from flying into windows in Australia
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bird feeder placement | Place bird feeders away from windows |
| Bird bath placement | Place bird baths within 50cm of windows to avoid high-speed collisions |
| Window cleanliness | Keep windows dirty to reduce reflections |
| Window coverings | Use curtains, blinds, nets, or screens to cover windows |
| Window decals | Use stickers, tape, or dot patterns to cover the outside of windows |
| Window patterns | Paint or etch windows with a repetitive or grid pattern |
| Window lighting | Use low-intensity lighting at night |
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What You'll Learn
- Place bird feeders and baths within 50cm of windows to avoid high-speed collisions
- Use physical barriers such as shade cloth, netting, or opaque screens to remove reflections
- Use anti-collision stickers, decals, or tape to break up reflective surfaces
- Cover windows with curtains, blinds, or other opaque materials to create an opaque appearance
- Avoid hanging plants or creating habitats near windows to prevent confusing birds
Place bird feeders and baths within 50cm of windows to avoid high-speed collisions
While many people like to attract birds to their gardens with bird feeders and baths, it is important to be mindful of their placement. If bird feeders and baths are placed too close to windows, birds may mistake the window for an open flight path and fly into it, causing severe damage to the bird and the window.
To avoid this, it is recommended to place bird feeders and baths within 50 cm of windows. This will prevent birds from building up enough momentum to hurt themselves if they do fly into a window. It is also important to avoid hanging plants near windows, as this can confuse birds and cause them to fly towards the plants seeking shelter. Instead, place potted plants inside, in front of the window, to block the view of the open flight path.
In addition to the placement of bird feeders and baths, there are other ways to prevent bird strikes. One way is to cover the outside of the window with a physical barrier, such as a shade cloth, old sheet, towel, or curtain. This can be removed once the bird has lost interest. Another way to prevent bird strikes is to use anti-collision stickers or decals on the window. These should cover the entire window and be spaced very closely together to be effective.
By following these simple tips, you can help keep birds safe and reduce the risk of bird strikes.
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Use physical barriers such as shade cloth, netting, or opaque screens to remove reflections
Birds often collide with windows because they cannot recognise glass as a solid object or barrier. They may mistake a window for a safe flight path or confuse the reflection of the sky or surrounding vegetation for the real thing. In other cases, birds may see their reflection in a window and attack it, mistaking it for an intruder. This behaviour is common during breeding and nesting seasons.
To prevent birds from flying into windows, you can use physical barriers such as shade cloth, netting, or opaque screens to remove reflections. Shade cloth is a plastic mesh that allows you to see through while preventing reflections on the glass. It can be placed on the outside of windows, preferably on the window frame or eaves, and can be removed once the bird has lost interest. If using netting, ensure it is white and of a suitable gauge so that birds can see it easily and do not become entangled.
Another option is to use opaque screens or curtains to cover the outside of the window. This can include hanging an old sheet, towel, fabric, or regular curtains over the window. Close blinds can also help create an opaque appearance and impair the bird's flight path. Additionally, you can try "frosting" or "etching" the glass, or applying a decorative pattern or non-reflective objects to the window to break up the reflective surface.
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Use anti-collision stickers, decals, or tape to break up reflective surfaces
Birds often collide with windows because they cannot recognise glass as a solid object or barrier. They may confuse a transparent glass surface or window for a safe flight path or mistake reflections of the sky or vegetation for the real thing. To prevent this, you can use anti-collision stickers, decals, or tape to break up reflective surfaces.
Stickers, decals, or tape should be placed on the outside of the window and spaced no more than 5-10 cm apart. They should cover the entire window, with spaces between them too narrow for birds to fly through. Some stickers feature ultraviolet patterns visible to birds, while others have opaque designs that disrupt reflections. Combining these stickers with other methods, such as placing feeders away from windows or using external shading, can enhance their effectiveness in preventing bird collisions.
Long-lasting tape products offer an easier way to apply the correct spacing of dots across your window. Vertical stripes are the most effective pattern, but you can also get creative with any shape or pattern as long as they are spaced appropriately.
In addition to stickers and decals, you can also use "zen curtains", which are closely spaced cords that hang down over windows. They work similarly to tape or decals but are easier to install and can be aesthetically pleasing.
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Cover windows with curtains, blinds, or other opaque materials to create an opaque appearance
Birds often collide with windows because they cannot recognise glass as a solid object or barrier. They may mistake a window for a safe flight path or confuse a transparent glass surface for the sky or surrounding vegetation.
To prevent birds from flying into windows, it is recommended to cover windows with curtains, blinds, or other opaque materials to create an opaque appearance. This can be done by closing the blinds or curtains to make the window appear opaque, or by hanging a sheet, towel, fabric, or shade cloth over the outside of the window.
It is important to ensure that the opaque material covers most of the window's surface, with spaces no larger than 10 cm across. This will help to remove any reflection and make it clear to birds that the window is a barrier and not a flight path.
Combining this method with other techniques, such as placing feeders and bird baths away from windows and using external shading, can further enhance its effectiveness in preventing bird collisions.
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Avoid hanging plants or creating habitats near windows to prevent confusing birds
Birds often mistake windows for open flight paths, confusing transparent glass surfaces or windows for a safe path to fly through. They may also mistake the reflection of the sky or surrounding vegetation on the glass for the real thing.
To prevent this, it is important to avoid hanging plants or creating habitats near windows. Bright flowers, bird feeders, and indoor plants close to windows can attract birds, so it is advisable to move them away from the immediate vicinity of windows.
If you have a clear view through a window to another window, a bird may interpret this as a clear flight path. This can be remedied by closing blinds, putting up shades, or closing a door to obstruct the clear view.
Additionally, consider using external shading, such as a shade cloth, old sheet, or curtain, to cover the outside surface of the window. This will help remove any reflections and make the window less appealing to birds.
By taking these measures, you can help reduce the risk of bird strikes and create a safer environment for our feathered friends.
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Frequently asked questions
Birds often mistake windows for an open flight path, failing to recognise glass as a solid object. They may also mistake the reflection of the sky or surrounding vegetation for the real thing.
There are several ways to prevent birds from flying into windows. You can cover the window with stickers, decals, or tape to make birds perceive the window as a barrier. Alternatively, you can hang nets, curtains, or screens over the windows, or place objects in the bird's flight path.
If a bird hits your window, it may be stunned. Place the bird in a dark, quiet place to recover. If, after 20 minutes, it hasn’t flown away or appears injured, contact a veterinarian or a wildlife care organisation, such as WIRES in Australia.
Avoid placing bird feeders or baths near windows, as these can attract birds and increase the risk of collisions. Keep windows dirty, as reflections can confuse birds. Close blinds or curtains to create an opaque appearance and reduce reflections.
