Make Windows Bird Safe
Many birds die or are severely injured trying to fly through glass or glass-like structures that offer an unobstructed or reflective view of vegetation or open sky. Mirrored glass is especially dangerous, but regular glass is also highly reflective, depending on light conditions. Windows are an obvious threat, but clear balcony railings, glass windscreens, bus shelters, glass walkways and link-ways, all pose the same risk. Birds seeking places to perch, eat or hide may be attracted to indoor houseplants, green walls and other indoor vegetation that are visible through windows at certain times of day. An estimated 16 to 42 million birds are killed every year in Canada by colliding with glass, about 44% of those happen at residences.
The key to preventing collisions is to make your windows visible to birds by applying visual markers in a dense pattern, ideally with a maximum gap of 5 cm (2″) between pattern elements, on the exterior surface of the glass. Commercial options are also available, such as Feather Friendly.