Look at the new glass options in our Products & Solutions Database for an idea of what might be possible.Why Do We Need Reflector Mac Alternative?
These options are only just starting to be available for home windows and will likely entail a special order. When ordering replacement windows, it is possible to ask for bird-friendly glass that includes patterns in ultraviolet, ceramic (“frit”), etch, or printed patterns.
Order full external screens, even if the windows do not open.There are several strategies for new windows and doors (including sliding glass doors): Individual panes of new glass are often larger than the panes they replaced and lack the muntins and mullions - the “dividers” that used to hold the smaller pieces of glass, while also appearing as obstacles to birds.Screens may be sandwiched between panes of glass and/or may cover only half of a window instead of being full screens on the outside.Many new windows use multi-layered and energy-efficient coatings, both of which make windows more reflective.People often report birds hitting windows after replacing old windows that did not cause many collisions. Visit the home windows section of our Products & Solutions Database to see these and other types of bird-saving products, as well as links to websites where they are available. Acopian BirdSavers and Bird Crash Preventers also hang in front of windows and are very effective at bird-window strike prevention. If you don't have built-in screens, or your screens only cover part of a window, there are several options, like Easy Up Shades and Bird Screens, which can be installed with suctions cups or hooks. Regular insect screens, for example, eliminate reflections and provide a cushion if a bird does hit a window. Three-dimensional solutions in front of the glass are highly effective and can also be unobtrusive.
Patterns do not have to be on the glass itself. In a pinch, you can use sticky notes or even draw on the windows with a bar of soap. Tape and bird window decals work well if you follow the spacing rules outlined above. Other kinds of paint can also be effective, but may be harder to remove. Patterns and even artwork done on glass with non-toxic tempera paint will last a surprisingly long time, can be easily removed or replaced, and make a nice family or school project, providing a great way to decorate windows for holidays and other special occasions. Retrofits can cost a few pennies per window or can be a long-term investment in your home. The retrofit looks sleek and also makes the windows bird-friendly and allows for public education." Adam Betuel "At Atlanta Audubon, we have retrofitted seven buildings with Collidescape film and have been very happy with the results. For three dimensional solutions like Acopian Birdsavers, mounted away from the glass, 4″ vertical spacing has proved to be effective. Two-inch spacing, vertically and horizontally (or at an angle), is enough to dissuade almost all species. However, many small songbirds, and especially hummingbirds, can and will fly through a 4” gap. Until recently, we talked about the ‘2×4 rule' because research by Klem and Roessler showed that vertical lines spaced 4” apart would stop a lot of collisions – and that's still true.
Again, though, the critical issue is the spacing. Of course, since the spacing is what's important, it doesn't have to be dots or stripes - you can use your imagination.Īlso, keep in mind that bigger is better: The wider the lines/dots, the more effective they will be because birds will see them from greater distances. Patterns of dots can also work if the diameter of the dots is at least ¼”. A translucent line won't show up as well. White stripes tend to perform better because they reflect most light and so are visible against more types of background reflections. A good rule of thumb - you should be able to see the pattern clearly from ten feet away. Most birds will avoid glass with vertical or horizontal stripes (or other markings) spaced 2” apart. For the birds, patterns must appear to be solid objects with adjacent spaces that are too small to fly through. (Patterns on the inside are often ineffective because they can be hidden by reflections on the outside of the glass.) We focus on the patterns, but birds focus on the spaces. There are several ways to do so: Apply visible patterns to the outside of the glass.
Thanks to research and experience we now know better how to stop birds from flying into windows. How to Prevent Birds from Hitting Windows