How to Make Your Windows Safer for Birds
Glass is one of the biggest threats to birds—but it doesn’t have to be. (Images courtesy of Wild Hope: Building for Birds)
Why birds collide with glass, and how to make your windows more visible to them
Every second, more than 30 birds die from flying into a window somewhere in the United States, making glass one of the leading causes of human-related mortality in birds.
Why does this happen? While most people can easily recognize a pane of glass, birds often cannot. A reflection of blue sky or leafy trees on a clear window can easily be mistaken for a safe flight path. The result can be a fatal crash.
But here’s the good news: you can help. With just a few simple and easy changes, you can make your windows “bird friendly” and help save lives right outside your home.
Making Your Windows More Visible to Birds
A murmuration of wild birds.
Creating bird-safe windows involves modifying the appearance of a window to make its presence obvious to birds. Patterns or marks on a window, for example, can signal that a barrier exists, while screens and cords can disrupt reflections that confuse birds into thinking that a welcoming spot to perch lies ahead.
At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, our experts are working to make all windows on our grounds safe for birds—and they’ve gathered some tips on how you can do the same.
Easy DIY Methods for Your Home
Stickers and Window Films
One of the quickest ways to stop birds from crashing into your windows is to apply pattern stickers or window films. You can purchase these products online in any number of styles and install them in minutes.
Beware: not all stickers and films are designed to deter birds. To make sure they are effective, place the markings no more than two inches apart, so birds can’t mistake gaps for open air.
Window Screens
You might already have screens on your windows to keep bugs and debris from entering your home. If so, you’re ahead of the game! Screens do a great job of blocking reflections and telling birds that they should fly in a different direction.
If you have partially screened windows, consider adding full coverage to each one. If you are facing lots of windows that might need coverage, you could potentially save money by only installing screens on the windows that birds are more likely to fly into, including large glass doors or windows that reflect plants or sky.
Paracord
Paracord was designed for use in military parachutes, but you can use it in a minimalist approach to bird safety. Hang a row of paracords vertically across the outside of your window, like window bars. Attach one end of each cord above the window frame and let them drape down.
It’s an inexpensive and weatherproof strategy—just don’t forget to space each cord no more than four inches apart and be sure the cords are hung on the outside of the window where birds will see them.
(Image credit: Marcie O'Connor)
Paint
You may have seen businesses in your neighborhood use water-based paints to decorate their windows for the holidays and other special occasions. This art can also double as a visual barrier to protect birds.
You can use water-based paint, including acrylic or paint markers, to create anything from geometric patterns to seasonal designs. As long as the marks are within two inches of each other, you’ll have both a piece of art and a bird-safe barrier.
Soap Streaks
Draw streaks with a bar of soap and leave them there, as the streaks will work just as well (if not better) than paint or stickers in deterring birds.
In fact, there is evidence that soapy windows protect migratory birds that are passing through, as well as local birds who come to learn that the window is actually an obstruction. Soap streaks will wash off every season, so make sure to reapply them as they fade away.
How the Professionals Make Glass Bird-Friendly
The Bird House at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, where faint horizontal lines on the doors and windows reveal the use of fritted glass. (Credit: Skip Brown/Smithsonian)
Here at the Zoo—and at a growing number of office and government buildings around the world — architects and designers are weaving bird-friendly elements into their structures.
Fritted glass
If you’ve seen glass with dots or bars on it—on the edges of your car windshield, for example—that glass may have been “fritted.” Fritted glass has ceramic ink fused into its surface. Not only is fritting used by designers to block sunlight or provide privacy, but it also makes glass easier to see by birds.
Artistic Printing
In office spaces, hotels, and other places where aesthetics is key, architects might install glass with decorative designs printed on the surface using a method similar to an inkjet printer. Printing has practical uses beyond protecting birds, so it’s a fortunate coincidence that it can also save birds’ lives.
Other Ways to Make Your Windows Bird-Friendly
The list of suggestions we presented here is not exhaustive. From hanging mobiles to hanging beads, there are plenty of ways to interrupt glass reflections and help make your windows safer for birds. Just remember: keep pattern markings no more than two inches apart vertically, and two inches horizontally.
Bonus Tip: Turn off the Lights!
Most migratory birds in North America travel at night. Songbirds, for instance, fly high in the sky through the darkest hours, and land near daybreak to rest and refuel. In cities and towns, where artificial lights dot the night sky, birds can get disoriented and fly towards the light sources they see – including the ones reflected on your windows.
The good news: the steps you take to make your windows bird friendly during the day will also help at night. But you can take extra steps to protect birds from nighttime window collisions that will also lower your electricity bills—and might even help you sleep better.
Start by simply turning off the lights at night, particularly in rooms with plants behind the glass. You can also install timers or motion detectors to ensure they turn off automatically. If you can’t turn off the lights, make sure to at least close your blinds to prevent too much light from spilling outdoors.
For outdoor lighting, like on your porch or garage, use bird-friendly lighting practices where you can. Point light only where it’s needed, keep the lights as dim as possible, and install warmer-colored bulbs. Not only do birds find this type of light less attractive, but bright blue and white light can trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime, so it is best to avoid it before going to sleep anyway.
Birds are at their greatest risk during their spring and fall migrations, especially on cloudy nights when artificial light reflects across off the sky and illuminates the whole environment. So, if you can’t make changes year-round, try to focus on keeping the lights off during these critical times.
More Bird-Friendly Resources
Windows Are Deadly to Birds – They Don’t Have to Be
Glass can be a silent killer for migrating birds. Here’s how the National Zoo tackled the problem.
7 Simple Actions to Live Bird Friendly®
Your collective actions can make a big impact for birds. Find out how you can live more Bird Friendly.