By 
Birds are territorial. Some bird species migrate from one place to another for favorable environmental conditions during specific seasons. The migration happens between breeding and wintering grounds along a flyway from north to south.
While flying, birds can stop by and perch on your porch or peck at your window. When birds start hitting the windows, they can be quite adamant and difficult to discourage doing so. Window pecking can damage your windows.
So, how can you stop birds from pecking at windows and catching a bird in your house? Whether you’re dealing with an unexpected avian visitor or trying to prevent window strikes, this guide has you covered.
Why Do Birds Peck at Windows?
Certain species of birds are known to be more aggressive towards their competitors than others. Thus, the species that are prone to attack their window reflections are the American Goldfinch, American Robin, California Towhee, Canada Jay, Chipping Sparrow, European Robin, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Towhee, Gray Wagtail, Laughing Kookaburra, Magpie-Lark, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, Ruffed Grouse, Song Sparrow, Wild Turkey, and Yellow-Rumped Warbler.
Birds are territorial, especially around their mating and breeding season. Usually, during February and March, which is their breeding season, the bird species tend to get more competitive. At this juncture, if they are brought face-to-face with another one of their kind, it is natural to push them into a bout of aggression.
Once in a while, when you have such aggressive visitors around, and they confront their reflection on the window or any other shiny surface, they will think of their reflection as their rival and start pecking at it to drive them away. They may also try other tricks like raking it with their talons, flying against the reflection, slapping it with their wings, and more. They may also scare the assumed enemy with aggressive poses and threat postures.
The severity of aggression and the duration of attacks depend on their persona and also differ with the bird species. However, mostly, the attacks last for a week or two and may continue till late summer. But by the end of the breeding season, the aggression usually wanes.
Materials Needed for Discouraging Birds from Pecking
You need to gather a few things, but not all of them, to stop the birds from attacking your window.
- Window decals
- Cardboards
- Wind Chimes
- Window Blinds
- Soap
- Plastic statues
- Paint
- Mesh
- Plastic Drop Fabric
Ways to Prevent Birds from Hitting Windows
Here’s how you can stop the passerines from attacking windows with their beaks and talons. But before that, let’s see what materials you need to gather.
1. Soaping the Windows from The Outside
This is a harmless solution to discourage window attacks by lathering the exterior side of the window with a foamy soap and water solution. This will prevent the windows from glaring, and consequently, the reflection surface won’t threaten the migrating birds.
2. Employ the Scare Tactic
One of the simplest and funniest ways to keep migratory birds from attacking your windows is to hang some plastic figure, such as a cat or owl, from the window.
3. Use a Distraction Technique
Another way is to suspend a wind chime in front of the window or outside the window. As the gale sways, the wind chimes, and its sound will drive the birds away.
However, take note that you must hang a big wind chime that makes more of base tunes rather than the small and metallic wind chimes, which might pique the curiosity of the birds and attract them instead of deterring them.
You can also opt to hang old CDs or other bright, shiny objects to keep the birds distracted.
4. Obstruct the Reflection
Another way of keeping the avians away from the window is to stop them from seeing their reflection in it. How do you stop them? One way to stop them is by installing a large matte and dark-colored decal on the window.
Another not-so-aesthetically appealing way is to cover the window with cardboard from the exterior or interior. You can also try sticking newspapers to your glass windows or using adhesive tapes.
If you don’t find cardboard to be a great idea, you can cover the windows from the inside with dark-colored blinds and curtains to prevent the windows from reflecting light.
Also, placing a non-reflective screen outside your window about 2-3 inches away from the glass can solve the problem at hand.
Concluding Thoughts
So, you know now why birds attempt to attack the reflection on the window. Although the aggressive tendencies of the birds usually end with the breeding season, the relentless attempts made by the birds to scare away the imaginary intruders can make them exhausted and vulnerable to diseases and predators.
Did you know that a bird should never be harmed in an attempt to stop them from attacking the windows as it will be a straight violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and similar legislation in many nations?
Therefore, it becomes essential for the sake of your window’s safety and for the well-being of the birds to discourage them from hitting your window. The methods discussed above help prevent the birds from inadvertently striking the window panes thereby creating a hospitable environment for birds.
Comments