Birds do not perceive glass as humans do. They don’t see it as a solid object but rather as a reflection of the landscape, sky, or water. This misconception often leads them to fly straight into it. The glass appears invisible to both birds and people, though humans learn to recognize cues like window frames and door hardware that indicate its presence.
Why Do Birds Fly Towards the Window?
Birds lack the capability to detect human-made obstacles and glass is one such element. Based on natural learning, a bird gets visual cues about the presence of a glass object on its way of flying.
Birds have a heightened perception of color, but they cannot understand the concept of reflection. Thus, birds are often seen interacting with their own reflection or getting misguided about the natural surroundings.
Birds come near the window because they are unable to recognize their own reflection and come to attack it. They can also be looking for a potential source of food or might consider the reflection of the surroundings as their natural habitat, where they can stay.
How Can You Stop the Bird From Colliding With a Window?
Birds fail to see the house windows, windshield, or even clear walls, as these look like the open sky. This problem is the same for small, large, domesticated, and even wild birds. Due to the smooth structure of the glass, the bird is unable to identify its presence. Also, the lack of texture on the glass makes it even more difficult for the birds to recognize it.
You can minimize the chances of birds colliding with the window by following strategies:
Use DIY Hacks
You can also implement DIY hacks, such as blackening out the glass, applying large decals, and repositioning the plants. Otherwise, use non-transparent window glasses or by installing bird-safe glasses.
Install a BirdSaver Glass
You can also get Birdsavers from the market, where the product enhances the visibility of the glass by reflecting UV light, which acts as a barrier for the birds.
Using Curtains
You can also try to place the curtains strategically across the window or use wind curtains with strings which would act as a signal for the presence of an obstacle.
Install Window Decals
You can also consider installing ultraviolet window decals that deter the bird away from the window. Alternatively, you can also install temporary blown film to the window, which prevents the bird from coming near the window.
Installing a Net Around Window
You can also consider installing a net, 3 inches from the window, which would stop the bird from flying into the window. You can also fix the net around the window and the setting up process is easy and quick.
Relocate the Bird Feeder
If you have placed the bird feeder too close to any window, then relocate it to prevent birds from colliding with the glass pane. You can also place the bird feeder closer to the ground or at a location where you have installed opaque window panes.
Install Windscreen
In the front of the window or along the edges of the window, you can install windscreens which would stop the birds from flying straight at the glass window. You can use wire mesh, metal, or even plastic to create these window screens.
Use Bird Tap or Gel
Using bird tap or gel is also a great method to prevent the birds from flying straight into the window. Bird tapes are sticky material that can be easily placed on the window sill and birds won’t come close to it. You can also spray gel on the window which would stop the reflection and the birds won’t get confused with the reflection of the trees or the environment with the actual one.
Remove the Shiny Windows
Some buildings prefer to use super shiny window glass, which is costly and enhances the appearance of the building, but replace them and consider frosted or etched glass which prevents the birds from flying straight into the window.
Hanging Wind Chimes
If you want to keep birds from coming near your glass window, then consider hanging wind chimes. The sound of the wind chimes becomes intolerable to the birds and eventually, they consider it to be a threat and stop coming or lose interest in flying straight into the window.
Can Birds Recognize Their Reflection on the Glass?
Birds can see their reflection on the glass but they fail to recognize themselves and treat it to be an intruder. They think of their own reflection to be a competitor, a potential mate, or a bird from the rival flock. It is often seen that the birds are constantly attacking the window as they find the reflection to be a threat.
Can Birds Distinguish Between Different Colors?
Birds are said to have well-developed color vision, they can distinguish between different colors but the skill to understand the variation differs from one species to another. Birds have tetrachromatic vision which enables them to distinguish between green, red, and blue colors. They also have a sensitive red-green axis for the vision which is more sensitive when compared with humans.
What Would You Do If a Bird Strikes a Window?
If the bird strikes your window, then you need to check the bird for visible injuries and also keep it under observation to detect its responsiveness. If you find the bird unconscious, check for heartbeat and signs of breathing. If the heartbeat has reduced and the bird is breathing slowly, then you need to keep the bird in a warm and dark environment, which would speed up the recovery.
Wait for an hour for the bird to revive on its own. However, if it fails then, place the bird in a small box that has ventilated holes and line it up with paper towels. Keep the box in a warm and quiet place and inform the local wildlife rehabilitation center. Also, you can rush to the veterinary hospital for more professional assistance.
Can a Bird Die after Hitting a Window?
Yes, a bird can die after hitting the window as they are flying at high speed and the collision is sudden, which leads to a fatal occurrence. They can also suffer from injuries like head trauma, broken wings, and excessive bleeding. It has been reported that every year 1 billion birds die globally due to collisions. Even migratory birds, flying at a greater height collide with tall buildings, as these interfere with their migratory route.
What a Bird Can See But a Human CanNot?
A bird can see UV light which humans cannot as it has a higher density of cone cells in the retina when compared to humans.
Which is Bird-Friendly Glass?
Bird-friendly glasses are the ones that have UV-reflective dots, patterns, or stripes on the outer surface. These patterns are not visible to humans and only birds can view these markings, drawing their attention to stay away from the window.
Can All Birds See at Night?
Yes, all birds can see at night, however, the visibility varies. Some birds have good vision while others lack and need to depend on other senses. Nocturnal birds have developed eye-sight that helps them to see even in the dark, which is not possible by diurnal birds. There are certain exceptions too, where the water birds, like shearwaters, are known to be active at night.
