Why Birds Hit Windows in the New Orleans Area and How to Prevent It

Here in the New Orleans area, bird strikes against home windows climb twice a year. The Mississippi Flyway, one of North America’s busiest bird migration routes, runs straight over the metro and Lake Pontchartrain each spring and fall, sending large numbers of migrating birds through Orleans and Jefferson Parish neighborhoods. More birds overhead means more collisions with the reflective glass on local homes, so it helps to know why it happens and what you can do about it.

If you’ve ever had a bird hit your window, you know it can be quite startling.

But did you know that this is actually a pretty common occurrence?

In fact, according to researchers (Smithsonian and American Bird Conservancy), an estimated one billion birds are killed each year in the United States after flying into windows. A big share of them pass right over us. The Mississippi Flyway, one of the continent’s busiest migration routes, funnels birds along the Gulf Coast and over Lake Pontchartrain every spring and fall, so New Orleans homes see plenty of window strikes during migration season. So why do birds fly into windows?

There are a few possible reasons. First of all, birds are attracted to reflections because they think it’s another bird or body of water. Secondly, glass is virtually invisible to them, so they don’t see it coming until it’s too late. And lastly, some birds mistake indoor plants for trees and try to fly through them.

How to Keep Birds from Flying into Windows: The Top 5 Solutions

Birds flying into windows is a common problem faced by many homeowners, commercial property owners, and even some residential property owners. It’s not just an aesthetic issue either; these collisions can actually injure or kill the birds involved.

While there’s no surefire way to keep all birds from striking your windows, there are a number of solutions that can help reduce the risk.

Here are five of the best:

• Keep Your Windows Clean:

A clean window is less likely to be mistaken for open space by a passing bird. If your windows are dirty, give them a good wash with soapy water and make sure to dry them completely afterwards.

You may also want to consider applying a non-stick treatment like Rain-X or Vaseline; this will help prevent dirt and grime from building up on your windows over time (which makes them harder to clean).

• Place Decals or Stickers on the Outside of Your Window:

This solution works similarly to keeping your windows clean; by breaking up the reflection, you’ll make it more obvious to birds that there’s something in front of the glass surface.

There are plenty of different designs available online, try doing a search for “bird deterrent decals” or “window stickers”.

1. 3M also sells products specifically designed for this purpose (such as their BirdsAway product line).
2. Install External Shutters or Screens:

These can provide complete coverage for large glass surfaces and block out reflections entirely. Not only will this deter birds from trying to fly through your window, but it’ll also protect against other pests like insects and small animals.

• Move Feeders Away from Windows:

Bird feeders are often located close to buildings with large glass surfaces because that’s where the action is, but if you can relocate them at least 30 feet away, you’ll reduce the likelihood of birds being attracted to your window in the first place.

• Consider Tinting Your Window:

Tinted film won’t eliminate reflections completely, but it can reduce their intensity enough to make them less noticeable (and thus less dangerous) to passing birds.

Applying a tinted film is a relatively simple affair; most hardware stores will carry do-it-yourself kits specific for this purpose.

Just be sure to read the instructions carefully before beginning the project. While there’s no guaranteed way to keep all birds from flying into your windows, taking some simple precautionary measures can help reduce the risk.

Finally, some experts believe that certain types of glass (particularly plate glass) reflect ultraviolet light which makes objects appear brighter and more visible to birds than they actually are; thus, furthering their attraction to window panes.

So if you’re tired of finding little feathered friends sprawled out on your doorstep, give these solutions a try.

• Buy Special Nets that Fit Over Your Windows

These will create a physical barrier between the outside world and your glass panes.

By taking these simple steps, you can help make your home more bird-friendly and prevent senseless deaths.

Why Do Birds Hit Windows? 3 Possible Reasons

We’ve all seen it happen. A bird crashes into a window and falls to the ground, sometimes dead or injured.

It’s a sad sight, but have you ever wondered why birds would do something like that?

Turns out, there are a few possible reasons for this behavior:

1. The bird is seeking food or mates that it sees in the reflection.
2. The reflection confuses the bird and causes it to lose orientation.
3. A closer look at 3 reveals another possibility that some birds view their own reflections as rivals!

This can lead to aggressive behaviors like flying at and attacking the “intruder.”.

While we might not understand why they do it, hopefully knowing these three potential reasons behind Why Do Birds Hit Windows? Gives us a little more empathy for our feathered friends next time we see them fly into glass!

What to Do If a Bird Hits Your Window

If you find a bird that has hit your window and is lying on the ground, there are a few steps you should take to help it.

1. Find the bird. Check to see if the bird is still alive, and if it is, gently pick it up using a cloth or towel.
2. Check for injuries. Look for any signs of injury, broken wings, bloody feathers, etc. If you find any, take the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator for treatment.
3. Provide shelter. If the bird is still alive and appears uninjured, create a makeshift shelter with some cardboard and blankets. This will help keep the bird warm until it can fly off safely.
4. Place the bird in a safe spot. Once you’ve created the shelter, place it away from windows, cats, or other potential predators.
5. Give the bird recovery time. If you’ve placed the bird in a safe place, it should be able to recover from its ordeal within an hour or two.
6. Release the bird or call for help. Once the bird is ready to fly away, open the shelter and let it go. If you’re still unable to get the bird to fly, call a wildlife rehabilitator for help.

Conclusion

Keeping birds away from your windows can be a challenge, but it’s worth the effort to save their lives. There are several solutions available that can help reduce the risk of birds hitting your windows, including physical barriers, decals and stickers, or simply moving bird feeders away from your windows. Additionally, understanding why birds hit windows in the first place can help us be more compassionate towards our feathered friends. Hopefully, with these tips, you can help keep birds safe from harm and your windows intact.

If you need window installation, window replacement, or repair across the New Orleans metro, from Uptown and Mid-City to Metairie and the lakefront, call on Big Easy Windows. We serve homeowners throughout New Orleans and Metairie in Orleans and Jefferson Parish, and we are glad to help you choose glass and treatments that look great and cut down on bird strikes. Contact us today, or call 504-384-8165.