Birds and windows

12 November 2009

Juvenile sparrowhawk knocked out by window impact — This young sparrowhawk was knocked out after flying into a window, but recovered and flew away

Image: Kim Martin, Boardwalk Framing

Birds and windows do not mix successfully. The common problems are when birds collide with windows or start to attack them, or if they start to eat the putty.

The popularity of picture windows, patio doors and double glazing has led to many injuries and fatalities among birds which fly into them.

Window strike

If you find a bird that has flown into a window, it may have suffered from concussion and could have internal injuries. Broken wings or legs are rare. Give the bird a dark safe place to rest for a couple of hours, during which time it will either recover or die from its injuries.

Although some birds collide in the heat of a chase, most do so because they see a reflection of the sky and trees in the glass, or because there is another window or mirror in the room making the bird think there is a way through. Double glazed windows tend to pose a greater risk than single glazed, since they produce clearer reflections.

Get into shape

This hazard can be reduced by making the window pane more obvious to the bird. Fixing to the outside of the glass an object which will indicate that an obstacle is present should help. Any image will work - try cutting out random shapes such as half moons, stars etc from coloured self-adhesive plastic.

The most effective shape is likely to be that of a hawk. Self-adhesive bird silhouettes can be purchased from any RSPB shop, many good petshops and garden centres, or by mail order from many large birdfood companies. To buy online from our gift catalogue please click on the link below and to browse our list of shops, click on the link to the right.

More expensive, but highly effective, are vertical blinds which can be angled so that you can observe your garden whilst reducing dramatically the appearance of the windows as a flight path.

Please understand that these measures will greatly reduce, but never totally solve, the problem