~wildlife education~
Photo credit: istock.com/John Kevin
“Thump!”- -- it’s the sound a bird lover dreads. That’s the sound of a bird hitting a window, often fatally. Each year in Canada, around 25 million migratory birds die as a direct result of collisions with building windows. Birds migrate in the spring and fall (between August 1 and November 15 in the fall).
In the daytime, reflected light poses a severe threat to birds. Birds can see through glass and what is reflected on glass, but they cannot see the glass itself.
At night, it is artificial light from our buildings and cityscapes that endangers birds. Many species of birds migrate at night, using light from the moon, the stars, and the setting sun to navigate. The bright lights of our urban areas confuse these birds.
If a bird hits one of your windows and is stunned, give it time to rest and heal. Gently pick up the bird and place it in a ventilated box and keep it in a quiet area for up to one hour. If you don't have a box, a sturdy paper bag on its side may work.
Open the box outside and watch to see if the bird flies out, making sure it won’t be towards a window. If it does not fly out, call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice. If a wing is drooping, you may want to bring the bird into the rehabilitation centre.
There are various things you can do to try to prevent window strikes: apply decals to windows, hang streamers, or cover the whole window. One method that definitely does not work is closing your curtains. Bird proofing must be applied on the outside of the window. Window decals with UV reflecting properties which can be seen by birds but not by people may help reduce collisions.
Other more effective options are long-lasting tape products that offer an easy way to apply a tight spacing of dots across your window. “Zen curtains” are closely spaced cords that hang down over windows. They do the work of tape or decals but are easier to install and can be aesthetically pleasing. One-way transparent film enables people on the inside to see out, but makes the window appear opaque on the outside. They can reduce the amount of light that comes in your window (which can also reduce your cooling costs).
You can help the wildlife in care at NIWRA by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!
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