Reflections

[May]

On the odd occasion, though it does go in fits and starts, we've had birds hit our windows. The ones who bump the side windows are coming into land on the window feeders and because big bad house dweller opened the windows a crack, they get confused about distance.
The ones who bump the french windows are generally youngsters who are taking off in fright from the patio. When one goes, they all go, sometimes the wrong way.
I'm now convinced the occasions when we have had birds hit the french windows is due to the reflections of the garden that can be seen in the glass .. it looks like a darker version of the garden you see.

So yesterday I was in the living room when I heard a thud. Being very used to looking out and seeing nothing, or at the very least a disgruntled sparrow on the conifer, I was shoicked to see a young female house sparrow on her back on the patio, her beak open. My eyes started to prick with tears as I opened the door and reached down to scoop her up .. but she then flipped in the air and started whizzing around in circles on her belly, one wing flapping madly. I gently laid the apron I had been wearing (baking you see) over her so she didn't do herself any damage and while I got a box together, my husband Andy picked her up. She was opening and closing her beak in his heands, her tongue visible at all times and his diagnosis was it didn't look good. Cue tears from yours truly.

I tried to call the bird hospital for advice, but they had shut up for the day. Andy went to check on her fifteen minutes later and I heard a voice call my name. He had lifted the cover from the box and suddenly Miss Sparrow was flitting about the kithen, landing on things and trying to get out of the window .. with a few more bumps here and there in the process .. so he caught her and took her back to the garden where the french windows were opened and with great gusto she took flight, zipping across the garden and into the trees.

I was so pleased with the outcome .. I have never been so terrified. The way she was acting was very scary indeed.

So today I have again taken the precaution of placing a clothes airer laden with old curtains in front of the windows. It's raining but the birds are still there and each time I hear the collective flutter of wings come down, I tense on hearing the frenzied flutter as they all leave together.
We're thinking of moving the bird table off the patio and up the garden which will take some doing as our garden slopes down toward the house and the patio is the only flat surface. I'd miss seeing the birds up close but I don't think I'm strong enough for the alternative.

[Diane E]

Hi May. You have my total and complete sympathy.

I was having window strikes everyday with my juvenile starlings - magpies swoop in from the far end of the garden and spook the starlings who take off and dont seem to always get enough height before they reach the patio doors..............Many tears here also.

When I crouched down from the starlings point of view and looked at the patio doors I could really see how they would be confused.

I have put pieces of string dangling down on the doors and silhouettes. Also plants in containers a little in front of the doors - to make them gain altitude quicker. And one of those windmills things that turn in the wind.

But in the end I chose to put the food further down the garden. And it was that that seemed to work best - NO strikes since (touch wood!). Strangely, they seem to take off in a different direction from their 'new' area (even though its only about 10-12ft further back). I can't see all the area where they are now from where I sit and obviously they are further away but I would much rather that than the alternative.

Good luck with whatever you try - I hope it works cos I know how horrible it is.

[May]

Originally Posted by Diane E

Hi May. You have my total and complete sympathy.

I was having window strikes everyday with my juvenile starlings - magpies swoop in from the far end of the garden and spook the starlings who take off and dont seem to always get enough height before they reach the patio doors..............Many tears here also.

When I crouched down from the starlings point of view and looked at the patio doors I could really see how they would be confused.

I have put pieces of string dangling down on the doors and silhouettes. Also plants in containers a little in front of the doors - to make them gain altitude quicker. And one of those windmills things that turn in the wind.

But in the end I chose to put the food further down the garden. And it was that that seemed to work best - NO strikes since (touch wood!). Strangely, they seem to take off in a different direction from their 'new' area (even though its only about 10-12ft further back). I can't see all the area where they are now from where I sit and obviously they are further away but I would much rather that than the alternative.

Good luck with whatever you try - I hope it works cos I know how horrible it is.

Thank you Diane.
It's the noise that upsets me. I hate it and I feel so tense when I hear the familiar sound of them taking off together.
We are going to have to move the bird table and I'm wondering whether to move the window feeders too .. I don't want to as the bumps they experience are wen they come in to land on the perch, but I don't want any fatalities, it's just heartbreaking. Like you say, if it is indeed a choice, then I have to move the table away from the house and the french windows and watch from afar.

[Diane E]

I know what you mean about being tense. Every time I went to the patio doors - whether first thing on a morning or after I had been out of the house - I was dreading what I might find on the floor.

Beyond the fact of feeling hugely better about avoiding window strikes, I found 2 good things about. Firstly, I could use my binoculars to look at them (they were too close before for binoculars to work). So now, I actually see more details on them than I did before! And secondly, as I can't see the whole feeding area from inside, its a good excuse to go and sit outside!

Food or no food, though, the male blackbird still comes to have a look in at the patio doors. Maybe he's just nosey!

[Varan Komodosky]

I have a mate who cured this problem by slapping reflective stickers (of butterflies) at random over the glass. Said it wasn't an ideal solution, not the prettiest, but it cut down on dead birds. Poor little daft beggars.

[ian_g]

Hi May,

My mum and dad have had a similar problem for years now, both on their kitchen window and patio window. They looked into it and (if I'm right - I shall check), my mum ended up buying some ultra-violet stickers from the RSPB. They don't look unsightly for they're virtually see-through and it does do the trick.

My only other suggestion is to stop be so house-proud and don't bother cleaning your windows

Ian G

[Wild-Woman]

Hi May. As you know, I've had the exact same problem and ended up putting strips of masking tape on the windows.That's off now and we haven't had any serious strikes for weeks. Our new prob was birds drowning in the pond. All young sparrows.Think it was nightshade(apologies if not) who pointed out that the young ones feathers aren't properly waterproofed and they quickly get waterlogged and aren't strong enough to get out.
It's a horrible problem and you have my sympathies-it is very upsetting.
Certainly hope moving your feeding station helps and the problem stops.Julie

[May]

Originally Posted by Diane E

I know what you mean about being tense. Every time I went to the patio doors - whether first thing on a morning or after I had been out of the house - I was dreading what I might find on the floor.

Beyond the fact of feeling hugely better about avoiding window strikes, I found 2 good things about. Firstly, I could use my binoculars to look at them (they were too close before for binoculars to work). So now, I actually see more details on them than I did before! And secondly, as I can't see the whole feeding area from inside, its a good excuse to go and sit outside!

Food or no food, though, the male blackbird still comes to have a look in at the patio doors. Maybe he's just nosey!

My husband has been rolling his eyes at me as I visibly wince when the sparrows come down or leave .. deary me. I find myself waking up due to the sun coming into the room and the first thing I do is poke my head out of the window to check all is well. I have a one track mind now.

[May]

Originally Posted by Varan Komodosky

I have a mate who cured this problem by slapping reflective stickers (of butterflies) at random over the glass. Said it wasn't an ideal solution, not the prettiest, but it cut down on dead birds. Poor little daft beggars.

I really do think it's the reflections in our case, not so much there being anything on or behind the glass as I've done this and looked in from bird level and the reflections are still there clear as day ..

[May]

Originally Posted by ian_g

Hi May,

My mum and dad have had a similar problem for years now, both on their kitchen window and patio window. They looked into it and (if I'm right - I shall check), my mum ended up buying some ultra-violet stickers from the RSPB. They don't look unsightly for they're virtually see-through and it does do the trick.

My only other suggestion is to stop be so house-proud and don't bother cleaning your windows

Ian G

Ultra-violet stickers? Oooh, how do they work then?

Oh if you could see my windows! The french windows have bird poop on them and the two side windows have grubby little wing marks from where they go to the window feeders!