How to Minimize Bird & Window Collisions

Large windows reflecting habitat. Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Problem:
It's estimated that as many as 1 billion birds die each year in the United States due to collisions with windows. Daniel Klem, a biologist at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, has been studying the problem for three decades and cites window strikes as a major cause of bird fatality. The primary danger stems from reflective glass. Birds see escape routes and possible safety zones mirrored in reflective glass and fly unaware into windows. The speed and force of the impact can cause instant death. Birds that seem stunned or do not die immediately may actually be fatally injured as well - suffering from a brain hemorrhage or other internal bleeding. At the very least, stunned birds are temporarily less responsive and thus highly susceptible to predation. Transparent glass poses a similar threat as birds collide into unseen windows en route to some visible target on the other side.
Blank

Solutions:

Feeder Placement
How can this help? Many birds strike windows after being startled off a feeder. Bird feeders placed within three feet of windows can reduce fatal collisions because birds do not have an adequate distance to reach high flight velocity. Placing the feeders more than 30 feet from a window will also reduce window collision risk because, at that distance, birds are more likely to recognize that the reflected image is part of a house and are less likely to fly toward it for safety.
Practicality — HIGH: For homes with feeders, this is an easy and surefire way to reduce deadly window strikes.
Window Shades, Drapes, etc.
How can this help? White or light-colored window shades, blinds, or drapes, when drawn, eliminate much of the mirror effect or transparency of windows.
Practicality — HIGH: Interior window treatments (such as drapery) already exist in many homes. The downside is that they block the view to the outside. Drawing curtains or blinds when leaving for work or vacation is good practice.

Before: Drapes open, window reflects habitat	After: Drapes closed, reflection greatly reduced

Window Decals or Items Hung Outside the Window
How can this help? Decals or objects placed on or in front of windows create an interference pattern that reduces the mirror effect of reflective windows and make transparent windows more visible. (For example, see "Wing Chimes" on the Fatal Light Awareness Program link below.)
Practicality — MED: Although decals are easily affixed to windows and are available in a range of styles (it is not necessary to use a hawk silhouette), they must be spaced close to each other to be effective – at most 2 inches apart horizontally, and 4 inches apart vertically. Objects, such as ribbon draped on the exterior side of a window must also be spaced strategically to create density. This density causes too much visual obstruction for many people. Covering just a portion of a window is better than no coverage at all.
Bird Netting
How can this help? Fine mesh netting stretched tightly over an entire window causes birds to "bounce" away before crashing into window glass and does not obstruct the view.
Practicality — MED: Works well but requires some do-it-yourself agility; poses entanglement risk if not properly installed. Netting must be taut and at the appropriate distance from the window. Adhere to instructions available with product or on the internet.

Window tilted - ground is reflected

Tilted Glass
How can this help? Tilting the glass in a window causes the ground to be reflected rather than possible shelter and escape routes for fleeing birds.
Practicality – MED: Not a foolproof solution but an easy way to address the problem during the construction or remodeling phase of a building. With supporting research, this practice might be commonplace in the future.
Fritted Glass
How can this help? Fritted glass has granules fused onto it to create a frost-like pattern that reduces its reflectivity and transparency.
Practicality — LOW: Currently being tested on a college campus, it holds some promise for widespread use in commercial and residential applications. May be perceived as esthetically unappealing by the general public and obstructs open view to the outside.
Window Films
How can this help? An opaque sheet of plastic attached to windows gives them a solid appearance.
Practicality — LOW: Films currently available to the general public severely limit visibility.
Bug Screen
How can this help? Bug screens or summer screens on the outside of exterior glass kept in place year-round will cut down on reflectivity and transparency while acting as barrier to birds and insect during warmer months.
Practicality – HIGH: In newer construction, double paned windows can be shielded by screens. In older homes with storm windows, screens would need to be switched with exterior glass. 


Source: http://web4.audubon.org/bird/at_home/SafeWindows.html
Blank

Read More

Bird Strike-Threats to Aircraft

Birds represent a serious, but often misunderstood, threat to aircraft. Most bird strikes do not result in any aircraft damage, but some bird strikes have led to serious accidents involving aircraft of every size. Airsafe.com provides various links to information on bird and wildlife strike hazards, including details on the extent of the risk and insights into how these risks may be controlled.

Source: http://airsafe.com/birds.htm
Photo Credit: http://www.skybrary.aero/ 

Read More

Natural Tricks to Get Rid of Pigeons

If you want to control pigeons at your property, then you should blocked the food and water sources by using bird netting. Use strong spices, such as cayenne, pepper or garlic, to discourage their presence. Get rids of pigeons by taking the advice of any professional gardener or bird control services provider. View the video at ehow.co.uk for more information.

Read More

Texas wind farm pioneers radar technology to protect migrating birds

According to a Guardian.co.uk post, Wind farms in US kill about 7000 birds a year. Estimates from a single wind farm in Altamont, California showed as many as 1,300 birds of prey killed each year – or about three a day. A handful of wind power projects in the US have been shelved because of wildlife concerns. But with new bird radar technology now in use at the Peñascal wind farm is protecting migrating birds at times of peak danger.

Read full article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/01/wind-farm-bird-radar

Read More

All about Pigeons

Pigeons are found all through the US. Grey in color with a whitish rump, two black bars on wing feathers, a wide black band on the tail; two legs with red feet, measuring about 11 inches, pigeons are considered to be filthy birds.

Pigeons feed on food grains and we end up feeding them unknowingly by spilling food everywhere. Open trash containers also provide food to pigeons.

Pigeons are commonly found in agricultural farms, in food warehouses, grain elevators, in food mills, around parks, and in steeples and voids outside buildings, bridges, and other structures.

Their droppings cause slips and falls besides causing extensive damage to the buildings and statues. What is even more serious is that pigeon droppings are the carriers of serious diseases like toxoplasmosis and salmonella, and they allow the growth of the fungus which causes histoplasmosis.

It is very important to prevent pigeons from roosting and nesting inside homes and outside buildings. Anti Bird spikes, bird gels, scare balloons, and visual acoustics are some of the bird control devices that help get rid of pigeons in a safe and humane manner without causing any harm to them.

In addition to adopting bird control methods and devices, homeowners and building owners must ensure that there is no food or water within the reach of the pigeons. Pigeon feeding must be discouraged as far as possible to keep them out of your homes and commercial buildings. By making roosting and nesting areas inhospitable for pigeons, the problem can be tackled in a much better manner.

Read More

7 interesting things you must know about woodpeckers

How much do you actually know about woodpeckers other than the fact that they peck on the trees and poles? Here are some interesting facts that you ought to know about woodpeckers –

1. There are approximately 180 species of woodpeckers found all over the world. The most commonly available species of woodpecker in North America is the downy woodpecker.

2. Depending on the species, their tongue is as much as 4 inches long. They usually have barbed tongues that they use for extracting bugs from trees and holes.

3. Woodpeckers have very interesting feet. They have toes that face both the front and the back to help them grip trees and poles as they climb on them.

4. Woodpeckers eat fruits, nuts, seeds, sap, and bugs. The nut feeders that grow in your backyard attract them to your house.

5. Unlike other birds, they do not produce any vocal song. They drum on the resonant objects for communicating with their fellow species, for attracting their mates, and for establishing their territories.

6. Woodpeckers can peck up to 20 times in a second. In a single day, they can peck for 8000-12000 times. 
   
   
7. While it may be quite annoying to bear the pecking sound that woodpeckers make in your backyard, woodpeckers don't get any headache from their own pecking noise. Their skulls are structured to spread the force and their brains are tightly cushioned.

Worried about the damage caused by woodpeckers? Seek professional bird control solutions to get rid of woodpeckers to protect your trees and wooden objects in your garden and patio.

Read More

Are your trees safe?

Woodpeckers are a major concern for tree. They feed primarily on the tree bark and during the course of tapping and pecking they end up spoiling the whole tree. Woodpeckers basically search for tree trunks and branches to feed on beetles, insects, and carpenter ants. They peck on the tree surface and then search for the insects with their barbed tongue. If they are unable to find any insect, they start to peck at another place. The damage usually occurs in horizontal lines on the tree trunk surface.

Woodpeckers usually feed on insects and ants but some of them feed on sap as well. Also known as sapsuckers, these woodpeckers are seen as a major threat to trees. Whereas woodpeckers only prefer dead wood to find insects for feeding, sapsuckers attack living tree to get fresh sap. Repeated pecking by sapsuckers kills branches and results in the damage of the entire tree. The oozing sap attracts squirrels, porcupines, and other insects-causing additional damage to the tree.

To protect your healthy and beautiful trees in your garden from woodpeckers and sapsuckers you must look for effective bird control methods. There are so many products and methods available in the market that help deter woodpeckers from entering backyards and farms. For successful results, you may look for a reputable bird control company to get rid off woodpeckers permanently.

Read More