It happened AGAIN!

Wild-Woman · #1 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 08:01 AM

Yesterday I had a starling hit my patio doors and die in my hands which was very upsetting.
Well today,it happened again, only this time with a goldfinch and with a happy outcome.
I picked the poor little thing up and cupped it in my hands to keep it warm and it was still breathing. I then set it in a box of clean warm straw and hoped.I took this picture whilst it came round. Within about 10 minutes, it sort of shook its head as if to say 'where've I been' and then got up and flew away.
Curtains over the patio are half pulled now in the hope that the birds will think it is a solid object. Hope it doesn't happen again!!! ww

matt_xyz · #2 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 08:32 AM

well done WW, let's hope the goldfinch made a full recovery. We had a young Sparrow hit our conservatory the other day. Scared the life out of me, but seemed to fly away without injury. I think the young birds in particular are particularly prone to these sort of accidents.

Matt

Tornado · #3 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 08:37 AM

Glad to hear of a happy outcome this time WW. I wonder what the bird really sees when it thinks it can fly through the glass? Or is it misjudgement in asmuch as they are too committed to actually stop once they are on the move?
Lets hope the partially drawn curtains do the trick.
Tornado

May · #4 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 09:39 AM

I'm glad the goldfinch made it through - it's always a happy moment.

We were commenting the other day that despite having window feeders, we've had no birds hitting the windows. Until yesterday that is, when it happened twice.
What had happened was I'd opened the windows a crack which must have threw off their instinctive calculation of distance and landing spot. My husband commented that they can't have been going that fast as it was the feeders they were going for and the windows were open no ore than half an inch .. just a small bump as they flew off again. I did check the garden, but no sign at all.

eeyore · #5 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 09:55 AM

Stick some silluoettes on your windows, you can buy these from the RSPB but its cheaper and more fun to make your own out of black paper. ( they dont have to be hawks anything will do, I'm currently using a mooooose)

I used to have loads of window strikes, inculding a pigeon who smashed staight through, but since putting up malcom the magic moose, nary a one

Wild-Woman · #6 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 10:07 AM

Already got some eeyore. Think it's when ths sun shines directly on the glass the problem occurs. Pulling the curtain give the silhouettes a sort of lighter background. Have to see if that works. Fingers crossed.

nicole · #7 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 10:18 AM

We were having the same problem at work with the swallows hitting our bothy widows WW. We tried using some silhouettes but this didnt really work. Now we have tried taping string from corner to corner of the windows. We have done this on both sides of the window; inside and outside. So far fingers crossed it seems to be working

Alan · #8 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole

We were having the same problem at work with the swallows hitting our bothy widows WW. We tried using some silhouettes but this didnt really work. Now we have tried taping string from corner to corner of the windows. We have done this on both sides of the window; inside and outside. So far fingers crossed it seems to be working

That's a good idea Nicole.

Can you remember them fly curtain like things that you used to be able to get to go over an open door! Maybe something like this could be used for the outside of the windows. The wind would then catch it so it swung about a little in the breeze. The birds would certainly notice this. A a few lengths of string hung down maybe.

eeyore · #9 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:05 AM

They don't notice mist nets tho do they ???

canonman · #10 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:10 AM

Hi
Sounds to me you have some kamikaze birds in your area.
Sure you have thought of this but does the sun shine on the patio doors ( What Sun) making it a bit of a blind spot for them
Glad to know the bird was alright
Mick

Alan · #11 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

They don't notice mist nets tho do they ???

Strange question

Mist nets are designed not to be seen aren't they? And you don't put them accross windows!

I was thinking more of thick string, so it is visible.

Wild-Woman · #12 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:22 AM

Alan. You're talking about those door thingies that have lots of different coloured strips of plastic hanging down that stops the flies coming in. Some shops have them. Think it's a good idea myself that could be a winner. ww

nicole · #13 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:23 AM

I just noticed I wrote that the swallows were hitting our bothy widows instead of windows! LOL now that would be bizarre

Wild-Woman · #14 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:30 AM

Never mind Nicole. I just had to look up what a bothy was.....ah a cottage! Didn't want to feel a bit 'der'. ww

nicole · #15 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Never mind Nicole. I just had to look up what a bothy was.....ah a cottage! Didn't want to feel a bit 'der'. ww

I didnt actually know what was either until I started work WW. Its apparently a Scottish word that means a small hut or shelter, but in our case its the building where we get our tea and biccies

Alan · #16 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Never mind Nicole. I just had to look up what a bothy was.....ah a cottage! Didn't want to feel a bit 'der'. ww

Hey I fell down the side of a mountain scree once, well slide down anyway. Scarfel, in the Lake District If I remember rightly. I didn't half have a sore bothy afterwards

eeyore · #17 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Strange question

Mist nets are designed not to be seen aren't they? And you don't put them accross windows!

.

True enough but when I worked in essex we had black nylon fly screening accross the windows and birds were forever getting tangled up in it

eeyore · #18 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Hey I fell down the side of a mountain scree once, well slide down anyway. Scarfel, in the Lake District If I remember rightly. I didn't half have a sore bothy afterwards

isnt that what is know as making an ass of yourself

Alan · #19 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

isnt that what is know as making an ass of yourself

Well that makes two of us

eeyore · #20 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:49 AM

walked into that one

- do you suppose nicole will give me "sanctuary"

Wild-Woman · #21 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 11:53 AM

Touche Alan.

Alan · #22 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

walked into that one

- do you suppose nicole will give me "sanctuary"

Read her signature mate! It's an old Afghan proverb

eeyore · #23 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 12:45 PM

yeah, but I'm anybody's

nicole · #24 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 01:07 PM

Im keeping out of all this donkey business

henrya · #25 (**permalink**) 31-05-2006, 01:12 PM

Back to the thread. Modern window glass is so flat that it acts as an almost perfect mirror, so at many angles the birds will just see a reflection, and not realise the glass is there. Old glass is not nearly so good at reflecting the surroundings. Try not washing your windows - the dust may help to break up the reflections!

henrya