I work in a nature center clad in large plate glass windows with no budget for
replacement glass, or anything else. We use a combination of methods to stop
the strikes. We've gotten it down significantly. We hang strips of bird flutter
tape, and in a stroke of brilliance, one of our managers thought to place bare
branches in front of the windows. We hang the branches from the top and set
some in buckets of sand at the bottom. It creates a visual barrier for the
birds and doesn’t detract from the view. In fact, small birds use the branches
as perches. We do need to replace the branches periodically as they break down,
but it's a lovely solution for us.
We use a few other methods because they are teaching tools and harness the
creativity of children: twist stiff wire into a spiral, let kids bead it with
translucent plastic pony beads, and hang it from a fishing line spinner--it is
a pretty craft, sparkly, and twists in the wind. Run a 'clothesline' in front
of the problem area, let kids write 'bird wishes' on strips of ribbon, and clip
the ribbons to the line with mini clothespins. It's cute, colorful, and
effective.
Hope this is helpful!
Leslie
-----Original Message-----
From: va-bird [mailto:va-bird-bounces+lsturges=verizon.net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Deapesh Misra via va-bird
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 9:53 PM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] UV stickers for windows.
Other ideas to try:
1> CDs/DVDs hung by threads so that they move in the wind2> cassette tape (i
read many years ago that some farmers used tape to scare away birds from
agricultural fields)
good luck,
_________
-Deapesh
On Wednesday, April 22, 2015 8:44 PM, kfswearingen
<kfswearingen@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My mother and I stumbled on the idea of windsocks in front of her windows. The
flapping cloth scares the birds away from the window. Since she put them up a
few years ago, she has had no bird strikes. I hope this helps.
---
We have consistently gotten window strikes on our large window facing the back
yard, over the years. Many birds survived, but a few died. Half of my life
records of Swainson's Thrush were made at a distance of 2 feet with very, very
cooperative birds.
Last fall we bought the UV stickers and also the UV goo that you apply from a
tube. We put them all over the window. During the next week we had 3 more
strikes on that window.
The UV products did absolutely nothing to help the situation, in our case. I
do not recommend them.
I realize they may help in some situations and not others. However, I don't
know of anything unique about our case, that would explain their failure for us.
We have resorted to hanging large sections of ordinary window screen outside
our windows. It's unattractive and it also hinders our view of the back yard
and birds.
I don't recommend that for anyone -- -- unless you are as desperate as we are,
to stop killing Swainson's Thrushes and Ovenbirds.
Steve Johnson & Lynn Rafferty
trying to kill less birds every year
in Fairfax, Virginia
On Apr 22, 2015, at 1:15 PM, pepherup--- via va-bird wrote:
Yesterday I was delighted to see a very crisp looking white crowned sparrow
in the yard. Pine siskins are still here every morning and today there are
three hummers fighting over the feeder. Yesterday I also had a male orchard
oriole and the first male blue bird I have seen since last year. The first
chimney swifts put in an appearance last evening. Still no indigo buntings.
Wind is so strong today that it is blowing the seed out of the platform
feeders and sloshing the nectar out of the hummingbird feeder.
A question: An article in the Nature Conservancy magazine in discussing
birds flying into windows mentioned that you could get a sticker that
reflected ultra violet light which birds could see but not humans. I
couldn't get any more information about such a product. Does anyone know
anything about this?
Peggy Lyons
Concord
Campbell County
