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According to a 2014 study, up to 1 billion birds in the United States die from collisions with windows and glass doors each year.
A bird is trying to fly into a car window (Photo: Getty).
Birds’ habits sometimes surprise observers, even though they have been the subject of scientific research for a long time. The most notable of these is their “hobby” of diving into, pecking at, and damaging completely inanimate objects, such as windows, car windshields, and rearview mirrors.
According to a 2014 study, up to 1 billion birds in the United States die from collisions with windows and glass doors each year.
According to scientists, most birds cannot distinguish their reflection in a mirror. For them, the first thought when seeing this image is to rush in to attack to protect the nest and chicks.
This happens most often in the spring, when birds’ territoriality is at its peak. “Birds are clearly not the Einsteins of the animal world,” said Rita McMahon, director of the Wild Bird Foundation in New York City.
“Animals need to have a certain level of cognition to be able to pass the mirror test, and birds typically won’t do it.”
Most birds cannot distinguish their reflections on windows, glass doors… and become unwilling victims (Photo: Getty).
Windows and glass doors can also reflect images of the sky, grass, etc., making it difficult for birds to distinguish. At night, migratory birds often crash into glass doors because they see lights.
To date, science has not been able to explain why light deflects nocturnal migratory birds from their original paths, especially in low-ceiling or foggy conditions.
In the illuminated area, they move around, sometimes colliding with each other or with the illuminated structure.
According to experts, you only need to make a few small changes to make your windows and glass doors less of a “target” for birds. One of them is to use non-reflective materials on the outside of glass doors and windows.
In addition, you can also install sunshades and outdoor awnings on the windows to reduce the reflection of sunlight. Blocking the window entrance with green plants and hanging baskets is also an effective solution.