By ecoRI News staff
 |
I use old CD disks dangling on string to discourage bird strikes. Seems
to work. I don't spangle them up as this person did. - W. Collette |
Migratory birds are on
the move, winging their way from nesting and breeding grounds in North America
to winter habitat in Central and South America and the Caribbean. It’s a
spectacular journey, but it’s one that many of them will never finish.
Habitat loss, outdoor
cats and pesticides all take their toll, but one of the biggest threats to the
birds’ safe travels is one they can’t see.
Hundreds of millions die
annually in the United States when they collide with glass windows, according
to the American Bird Conservancy.
High-rise offices create
an obvious threat, but about half of collisions occur at private homes.
Several birds of
conservation concern are among the species most vulnerable to window
collisions, including golden-winged and Canada warblers, painted bunting and
wood thrush.
Help, though, is as
close as your local hardware or art-supply store. Window screens, painted
designs and bird tape or decals, properly applied, can all deter birds from
flying into glass.
Creative solutions don’t
require spending a lot of money. “There's a solution for everybody and for
every budget,” said Christine Sheppard, manager of the conservancy’s Bird
Collisions Campaign.
“Cost, aesthetics, ease of application, or how
long it lasts — which solution you pick depends on what matters most to you.”
Spacing is important.
Most birds will avoid windows with vertical stripes spaced 4 inches apart or
horizontal stripes spaced 2 inches apart. More complicated or irregular
patterns will also work as long as they follow the same spacing rules. For best
results, patterns must be on the outside surface of the windows.
Here are some ways to
make your home windows bird friendly, courtesy of the American Bird
Conservancy:
