Dangerous windows, injured birds

  • Post category:News
  • Post comments:0 Comments

For birds, glass windows can be life-threatening, because they can easily fly into them. But why does this happen? During the day, birds fly into windows because they see reflections of outdoor vegetation or notice indoor plants, separated by glass. Collisions can also happen at night, especially in low-ceiling or foggy conditions.

What can we do?

  • Place markings, such as decals, ideally 2 inches apart across the entire outer surface of the glass. It is important to note that hawk silhouettes are not very effective at deterring birds. Remember: placing just one or two stickers on a large window will not prevent collisions—the stickers must cover most of the glass, and the spaces between them must be narrow enough to prevent birds from flying through.
  • Cover the glass with netting on the outside, at least 3 inches from the glass, tight enough to bounce birds off before they hit the glass. Small-mesh netting (about 1.5 cm) is best, so that birds do not get caught with their heads or bodies, but instead bounce off unharmed.
  • Installing mosquito screens on your windows is very effective, as long as they are on the outside of the window and cover the entire surface.
  • Use a writing tool suitable for glass to draw thin vertical lines on the window. Birds will think there’s a grid and won’t try to fly through the gaps. Here’s a video showing how to do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9xQkUtQ98

How to help an animal that has crashed into a window?

  • Try to catch the bird. Approach it from behind and use both hands to gently cover it. Hold the bird gently but securely.
  • Find a suitable small cardboard box and line it with a napkin or paper towel. Puncture a few holes in the box to allow air to enter, then place the closed box in a dark, quiet, warm place, away from children and pets. Alternatively, you can use a well-ventilated cloth bag, which can be hung up to hold smaller birds until they recover.
  • Do not handle, feed, or water the bird once it is in the box. If the bird doesn’t have visible injuries, is not bleeding and it’s using its wings properly, wait an hour and try releasing it. In most cases the bird will fly away without problems.
  • If the bird cannot fly, then contact us at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center’s emergency number – 0722533816. (Work hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 18:00, and on weekends from 10:00 to 15:00. Outside of work hours, please send a message and a photo via WhatsApp to the same number.)

For more information visit the Fatal Light Awareness Program website.

Leave a Reply