Window Strikes

Many people who feed birds are familiar with the heart wrenching feathery thud of a bird striking a window.

by John Rakestraw

Birds occasionally fly into windows because the reflection on the glass makes the window look like an extension of the outdoors.  In some houses, birds are able to see in one window and out another, making the birds think there is a clear path through the building.

The key to preventing window strikes is to make the windows more visible to birds.  Decals placed on the outside of windows break up the reflection, allowing the birds to detect the glass.  Some people hang streamers or decorative items in frong of windows to discourage birds from attempting to fly through.  In extreme cases, windows can be covered with netting, similar to that used to cover fruit trees.

Contrary to popular belief, birds do not usually break their necks when they strike a window.  Bird necks are very flexible.  If death does occur as a result of a window strike, the cause is either brain damage, an opportunistic predator, or more often, shock.

Many stunned birds can be revived if you act quickly.  When you witness a window strike, gently place the bird in a small paper bag, fold the top of the bag closed (securing it with a paper clip), and bring the bird inside.  Let the bird rest in a warm, quiet place.  More often than not, the bird will revive within half an hour.  When you hear the bird flapping around inside the bag, take the bag outside and release the bird. 

For expert advice, phone the Audubon Society of Portland’s Wildlife Care Center at 503-292-0304.  Click here for more information about Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center.