Chaffinch stunned fling into glass

[mamma-p]

The title should say FLYING into glass!! ^^^^

Every day several birds fly into the bedroom window. It's the only one in the house that is just a large sheet of glass with small top opener. They usually just get up and fly off again after a few seconds but today a little chaffinch was so stunned it was still sitting on the snow 2 minutes later. I know 2 minutes isn't very long but for such a tiny bird in freezing conditions if I left it she would freeze to death in no time. She let me scoop her up and I brought her inside, popped her in a box with a fatball and a drop of water in a jar lid. Put the box by the radiator with a cloth over and left it for an hour or so. 15 minutes in she was still sitting stunned but after around an hour I heard a cheeping from the box so investigated. When I opened the box she flew out and straight through the house to the window she'd flown into! She sat on the sill and let me scoop her up again, then flew off into the trees when I held her up to the open window.

I was really surprised she let me pick her up twice without struggling, is that normal or is she used to seeing me with food in my hands so trusts me a little? Or maybe she was just scared rigid both times .

A happy ending but how can I prevent them flying into the window? There is a tree opposite and maybe it's the tree's reflection that's confusing them? I used to have a big vase of flowers there but moved it because I thought maybe they were trying to land on them. I do keep that window very clean so I can see and photograph the birds, maybe I should let it get dirty and clean a circle in the middle . It makes no difference whether the curtains are open or closed. Any ideas anyone?

[C J Smallman]

I seem to remember the RSPB doing some bird of prey stickers to put on the windows.

British Garden Birds - Windows

Mentions it as well and seems to recommend exactly what you did to help the little bird

Here is the RSPB info windows near the bottom of the page

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpin...alth/faqs.aspx

Chris.

[actionfinch]

Originally Posted by C J Smallman

I seem to remember the RSPB doing some bird of prey stickers to put on the windows.

British Garden Birds - Windows

Mentions it as well and seems to recommend exactly what you did to help the little bird

Here is the RSPB info windows near the bottom of the page

The RSPB: Advice: Frequently asked questions

Chris.

I would second that idea.. my mum had the same with here patio doors and got some stickers,even though they were of butterflies , but has never had a nother bird hit them since.
so it would be worth it.

[angelika611]

I had this trouble only once when a starling flew into my window,so i keep my blinds closed and just bring them up a little bit at the bottom,i haven't had problems since.

[Bellfamily]

Originally Posted by actionfinch

I would second that idea.. my mum had the same with here patio doors and got some stickers,even though they were of butterflies , but has never had a nother bird hit them since.
so it would be worth it.

I saw these window stickers on this website:
Butterfly Window Alert | Hygiene and Safety

I have not used them as I don't have this problem but remember seeing them and thought they sounded good.

[marian's birds]

It seems to be a problem here with my conservatory in late summer. The young blackbirds regularly crash into the glass. Luckily so far I haven't had any fatalities and after I had a number of incidents last summer, I partially lowered all the blinds, which helped a lot.

[mamma-p]

A huge thank you for the suggestions and links. I don't think I'll use the bird of prey idea because I don't want to scare them away completely I'd miss them so much, even if they only move further down the garden . I love the sparkly idea and as I make jewellery I have lots of sparkly things so will make something to hang in the window. I have some butterfly stickers too, not the kind mentioned but maybe they'll help anyway. It's usually blackbirds and starlings that fly into the glass and they are pretty hardy but I really felt for the poor little chaffinch. My kids all think I'm too soppy but I know everyone here would feel exactly the same.

[SheffieldLass]

BTW the stickers need to be put on the outside face of the window, as it is the outside face that is reflective and stops you/the birds seeing in or seeing anything put on the inside face.

Interestingly there was an article somewhere which if I remember rightly was about a scientist who had looked into the issue of bird strikes and had produced uv patterning for glass which the birds can see, but we can't. But he hasn't been able to persuade the glass manufacturers or building regs to include it in window glazed units to prevent bird strikes.

[2dogs2000]

[quote=SheffieldLass;721396]BTW the stickers need to be put on the outside face of the window, as it is the outside face that is reflective and stops you/the birds seeing in or seeing anything put on the inside face.QUOTE]

I didn't know that (thinking about it, it makes sense). I have some stickers on my window and it has reduced the number of strikes on the window but I have had the odd one now and again. I will have to reposition mine/or put new ones up.

Thank you