Have you ever accidentally walked into a glass door? If so, you have an idea of the pain felt by a small bird when it hits a window at full speed. When a bird hits a window, although it may seem in good shape shortly after, most of the time, he will have suffered internal injuries. This can be a head injury with internal bleeding in the brain. Even if the bird flies away, 50% of these birds will die from their injuries. Each year, hundreds of millions of birds worldwide die after hitting windows. The reason is simple. The windows are transparent, reflecting trees and sky, giving the impression that the bird safely continue their journey. Moreover, birds have a visual perception different from ours. Their frontal vision is not as good as their peripheral vision.
To demonstrate the extent of the problem, we have collected for you some sobering statistics: In the U.S. alone, an estimated 100 million to 1 billion birds die per year as a result of collisions with windows (Klem 1990). That’s the equivalent of 333 Exxon Valdez spills each year (Klem 2006)! In Canada, the mortality rate is estimated at 15 to 56 million birds per year (Wedeles 2010). Three different studies have estimated that one bird per house dies each year. According to FLAP (Fatal Light Awareness Program), an organization that has taken care of injured birds for almost 20 years, the species most affected are sparrows and warblers. They represent 75% of the 100 species recorded. This problem is greatly expanded during migration. Knowing these alarming statistics, it is our responsibility to act for the welfare of nature and all living creatures.
We offer some solutions to reduce the number of birds killed every year: 1) When possible, use opaque or tinted windows.
2) Install curtains or blinds so that the glass becomes visible. Birds are usually able to avoid natural obstacles but windows are too reflective, and therefore, become lethal obstacles for them. 3) Install self-adhesive shapes or infrared silhouettes such as those sold in our store. It is important to cover the entire surface of the window (using only one in a large window is not enough). 4) Relocate your feeders so they are closer to your home (1 meter away).The reason: birds frightened by predators do not have time to build up enough speed to injure themselves should they hit a window.
5) Do not put indoor plants near your windows. Birds are attracted by plants and sometimes want to take refuge in them when they are spooked. 6) Use films with small dots on your windows
Although some methods are less practical than others, we encourage you to do your part to reduce bird mortality over the years.
