That Dreadful Thud

Have you ever been minding your own business when you hear that dreadful thud of a bird colliding with your window? Unfortunately, up to 1 billion birds die each year from window collisions. Why are such smart animals so clumsy? Well, it’s because (most) humans can use door frames, reflections, and other visual cues to anticipate the presence of glass. Birds, on the other hand, perceive reflected images as literal objects, so they fly into windows looking for food, shelter, or an escape route.

Good: Putting sticky notes or some other marker on the inside of glass can help.

Worried about blocking your view or making your windows unsightly? Worry not, there are some great options out there (such as the bird decals pictured) to keep your windows bird-friendly and looking great. It’s also a great way to teach family and friends about the importance of protecting birds from window collisions.