Last Call

Birds see reflections in glass as space they can fly through and may therefor fly into it at full speed, often sustaining fatal injuries.

Here are some treatments that help:

Screens Mosquito screens are very effective at preventing bird strikes, as long as they are on the outside and cover the whole window.

Tempera paint or soap Mark the outside of the window with either a grid pattern of 2 inches by 2 inches, or paint other tight patterns or artwork.

Tape Long-lasting tape products offer an easier way to apply the correct spacing of dots . “Feather Friendly” has products that work well in preventing collisions.

Decals Put decals, stickers, sun catchers, mylar strips, masking tape, or other objects on the outside of the window. Make sure they are spaced very closely so birds won’t think they can fly between them.

One-way transparent film Products such as “CollidEscape” permit people on the inside to see out, but makes the window appear opaque from the outside.

Acopian BirdSavers These closely spaced, dangling cords are easy to either order or DIY and are installed hanging in front of windows. They are highly effective and are the method used at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Cats are estimated to kill more than 2.4 billion birds annually in the U.S. and Canada. This is the #1 human-caused reason for bird mortality, aside from habitat loss.

Keep your cat indoors, build it a “catio” or take it for walks on a leash or in a pet stroller.

Plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade, and many species, birds included, mistake it for food with deadly results.

You can avoid single-use plastics like bags, bottles, wraps, and disposable utensils, advocate for bans of plastic bags, styrofoam, and straws and encourage stores, restaurants and other businesses you frequent to phase out single-use plastics.

The majority of the world’s coffee is grown in the sun by cutting down forests that birds and other wildlife need for food and shelter.

Shade-grown coffee helps more than 42 species of North American migratory songbirds that winter in coffee plantations, including orioles, warblers, and thrushes. You can look for “Bird Friendly Coffee”, a certification from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center that also includes organic standards.

Birds can be attracted by artificial light, which when they are migrating can draw them off course, delay their migration, and increase the risk of them colliding with buildings.

Installing downward-facing lighting and turning off as many lights as possible at night are ways to reduce the problem.

Common toxins used in and around homes can be harmful to wildlife.

Pesticides that are toxic to birds can harm them directly through contact, or if they eat contaminated seeds or prey. Pesticides can also harm birds indirectly by reducing the number of available insects, which birds need to survive.

Birds need food and shelter in which to raise their young and rest during migration.

Native plants, unlike lawns and many non-native garden plants, provide shelter for birds while the nectar, seeds, and berries of these plants, which have co-evolved with the birds, help provide the right nutrition at the right times. Native plants also support insect populations, such as caterpillars, which are a vital source of food, especially for songbirds and many growing baby chicks. Find out which native plants are best for birds in your area here.