Another reckless bird question

April 18, 2017 9:27 AM

A small bird is repeatedly flying into our window with reckless abandon, similar to the one described in a previous thread, and we're wondering if anyone has any new ideas. The poor bird has been at it for several days now. Details of what we have tried so far inside.

It's a small bird, probably some kind of tit or warbler. It apparently has an issue with our second floor window. There is a ledge about 50 cm away from the window and it sits on the ledge and then just repeatedly flies into the window, similar to what MegoSteve described several years ago. From time to time it flies off, but it always comes back. This has been going on for several days now. Today, it has spent most of the day sitting in front of the window. It's obviously not hurt, it can fly normally, but mostly chooses to do this crazy thing.

We have closed the blinds - didn't help.
We have taped long, glittering strips to the outside of the window - didn't help.
We have taped a bird silhouette to the window - didn't help.

Any ideas what else we could try?

posted by wavelette to Pets & Animals (7 answers total)

Do you have enough access to just cover the window (on the outside, so there is zero reflection) with paper or posterboard or foamcore or something for a day or two?
posted by Lyn Never at 9:31 AM on April 18, 2017

The Audubon Society has a good overview of methods to mitigate bird strike. This product from The Bird Screen Company seems most likely to protect your guy from his territorial intentions. I'm guessing you could rig up something similar with dowel and insect screen material. Thanks for caring.
posted by firstdrop at 9:38 AM on April 18, 2017

I bought a realistic-looking snake (from a toy store) and positioned it right outside the window.

Unfortunately, I didn't position it realistically. I hung it from a nail at the window's top. It made a nice place for the mockingbird to perch between attacks.

You could do better, I'm sure.
posted by amtho at 9:50 AM on April 18, 2017 [4 favorites]

Best answer: It's fighting with itself. Can you soap up the window just for a day (on the outside) so it basically can't see its reflection? Just drag a bar of soap around it in irregular zigzags. Will come off with a hose or in the next rainstorm.
posted by jessamyn at 9:57 AM on April 18, 2017 [5 favorites]

Is it actually flying into the window to say attack it's reflection or is bumping into the window as it's gathering food/nesting material. Windows tend to attract spiders, some birds like to use spiders webbing for nesting. Also if insects are attracted to the window the bird could be flying up for an easy meal or mistaking spots on the window for insects.

We have a window in a room we leave a light on allnight, it attracts a lot of insects to the window which attracts a lot of spiders that build webs. Every spring birds come and tap around on the window taking the webbing for nest building. I've had good luck using 2 tension rods at the top & bottom of the window on the outside & pinning some material over them with safety pins, to basically make a window cover until nest building season passes.
posted by wwax at 10:02 AM on April 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

I've had a similar problem, and never quite resolved it but once I noticed the bird using the window to smash some insects that it was carrying in its beak.
posted by dhruva at 10:18 AM on April 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

Could you buy one of those owl statues and put it out there in front of the window?

Then once the bird/window situation is resolved, you can use the owl statue to scare the crap out of your friends. Hide it in the shower, in the fridge, in the backseat of the car, the possibilities are endless.
posted by Elly Vortex at 2:48 PM on April 18, 2017 [3 favorites]