Every fall, birds fly south for the winter. This is prime time for window strikes. We all have had birds hitting glass, frequently dying, sometimes not; but during migration, the number of songbirds colliding with windows increases dramatically. Here are a few things you can do to prevent these accidents.

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) at abcbirdtape.org sells a product called “bird tape” that helps prevent collisions. Birds hit windows because they can’t see the glass and fly toward the sky or trees reflected in the windows. If there are windows on opposite sides of a house, birds may try to fly through what they perceive to be a clear passage. The impact can kill or severely injure a songbird.

Applying bird tape to your window allows birds to see a barrier to avoid rather than a space through which they can fly. The suggested spacing of the translucent tape is every four inches placed vertically on the glass. Check the ABC website for specific information.

Another idea is to apply decals to windows prone to bird strikes. Although three or four decals may not be as effective as bird tape, it will likely decrease the number of collisions at that window.

Screens over windows are a good solution to bird strikes. Not only do screens decrease the reflectivity of the glass, but they also cushion any impact. I have seen small birds hit the screens on my porch and bounce off to fly away without even touching the ground.

One final and creative solution is to paint a window with a seasonal design to warn the birds away. Please see the accompanying photo. It works!

Help birds detect the glass, and you will help decrease the one billion bird deaths annually in the United States from such collisions.