By Christine A. Smyczynski
There is nothing sadder than hearing a thud against your window and heading outside to investigate, only to find an injured or dead bird lying beneath your window. Birds crash into windows mainly because they can’t tell it is a solid barrier because of the reflection or they think they see another bird (their reflection) invading their territory and go to attack it. Sadly, over half of all birds who fly into windows die. This is especially common during the spring and fall migrations.
USA Bird Supply www.usabirdsupply.com sells a number of products that can help deter birds from flying into your windows. Window Alert ($5.59) features 4 static cling decals which are specially coated to reflect ultraviolet sunlight to alert birds not to fly into the window. This light is invisible to humans, but to birds it is like a stop sign. The decals are placed on the outside of the window. Window Alert comes in five designs to choose from: hummingbird, butterfly, leaf, snowflake, or square.
USA Bird Supply also sells Cardinal Alert ($7.29) a 48” x 6” static cling decal strip that is designed to eliminate a bird’s reflection along the bottom of the window. Territorial birds, such as robins or cardinals, will attack their own reflections in windows to defend their territory, often injuring themselves. Cardinal Alert, placed on exterior class windows, prevents birds from injuring themselves. You just simply apply them to clean windows, alone or in groups. Since the UV coating fades over time, the decals should be replaced yearly.