May have figured out a cheap way to prevent window strikes

[dsonyay]

I was brainstorming about how I can get the attention of birds headed towards my rear windows and I thought of hanging two or three streamers in front of each window. So far, so good. The winds cause them to move around and they seem very noticable.

The ones I'm using are the paper party streamer (from the party section at Walmart). It's a kind of crepe paper. What I'd like to do is find something similar but made of vinyl. The paper does not last long in rainy weather. But it's just an initial experiment.

Does anyone know where to buy something like this but made in vinyl?

Here's a pic:




In the photo, I have the bottoms taped as well, but later I let them hang free and they move around much more. This seems to really break up the window pane reflection. The lower half is screened and doesn't have the reflection the upper half does, so I left it alone.

I had two bird strikes before putting this up- all were BBs. None died luckily.

Any help or ideas?

Oh- and I cleaned up the siding last weekend- the wife was after me to get this done. It faces north and gets a lot of mold buildup during the winter

[katkola]

You can purchase "Cling-on window decals". I'm not sure that's exactly what they are called, but they adhere to your windows and are visible to the birds but do not hamper your view.

Here is one site on-line that offers them (not too expensive either!).

http://www.wpines.com/WindowDecals/Designs.htm

[Dave W]

David- I've used bird scare tape made out of Mylar. It's very reflective and is red on one side and silver on the other. I put up about a 2 to 3 foot strip on my picture windows (outside surface) and tape on one end with duct tape. They are constantly fluttering in the breeze and lasted all winter. No more bird strikes. You can get the tape at an orchard supply place and it's sold in rolls. The rolls are long enough to last a lifetime, if that's all you're using it for. I think you can get window stickers at some of the bird feeding stores too. I haven't tried them yet.

[Dave W]

David- I've used bird scare tape made out of Mylar. It's very reflective and is red on one side and silver on the other. I put up about a 2 to 3 foot strip on my picture windows (outside surface) and tape on one end with duct tape. They are constantly fluttering in the breeze and lasted all winter. No more bird strikes. You can get the tape at an orchard supply place and it's sold in rolls. The rolls are long enough to last a lifetime, if that's all you're using it for. I think you can get window stickers at some of the bird feeding stores too. I haven't tried them yet.

[Dave W]

David- I've used bird scare tape made out of Mylar. It's very reflective and is red on one side and silver on the other. I put up about a 2 to 3 foot strip on my picture windows (outside surface) and tape on one end with duct tape. They are constantly fluttering in the breeze and lasted all winter. No more bird strikes. You can get the tape at an orchard supply place and it's sold in rolls. The rolls are long enough to last a lifetime, if that's all you're using it for. I think you can get window stickers at some of the bird feeding stores too. I haven't tried them yet.

[dsonyay]

David- I've used bird scare tape made out of Mylar. It's very reflective and is red on one side and silver on the other. I put up about a 2 to 3 foot strip on my picture windows (outside surface) and tape on one end with duct tape. They are constantly fluttering in the breeze and lasted all winter. No more bird strikes. You can get the tape at an orchard supply place and it's sold in rolls. The rolls are long enough to last a lifetime, if that's all you're using it for. I think you can get window stickers at some of the bird feeding stores too. I haven't tried them yet.

I will look for this stuff. The window stickers I've traditionally seen seem expensive to do all of my windows. That roll of tape sounds like the ticket.

[daveh]

David, we just threw away all the old vertical blinds in our lake house and got new ones. I think they were vinyl or plastic. I bet old blinds would work real well in front of windows blowing in the wind.

dave

[dsonyay]

David, we just threw away all the old vertical blinds in our lake house and got new ones. I think they were vinyl or plastic. I bet old blinds would work real well in front of windows blowing in the wind.

dave

Yes-- something like that would be good too. I saw some outdoor fake bamboo screens that are like blinds ... But it's pricey to buy three or four big, wide ones.

I'm looking at the streamer concept or even the mylar tape.

[Sam Harris]

That looks like a good idea. I lost a cedar wax wing last week due to a window strike.

[dsonyay]

I'm going to try a different setup. Instead of the long strips, I'm making them much shorter and spacing them on top, middle, and lower portions of window.

I was having problems with the wind blowing them completely away from the window in the afternoons. The shorter sections should be fine. I'll just have more per window.

I looked at the bird scare tape and will make some calls today. I've never heard of this stuff.

My other idea is using poster board ( like my kids use for school) and center a piece in front of each window. It will block some of our view, but will still allow light to come through.

[jeffwilliams72]

I use the stickers for birdstrikes, I put 1 in the middle of each reflective pane of glass.
From my perspective, it doesn't look like much in that open field of glass, but they do work wonders. Since I started using them, not 1 bird has hit my windows.
I can't remember what they cost, but it stopped the birds and they are barely noticeable.

[dsonyay]

Jeff- are you talking about the stickers made especially for bird strikes? I can't find them anywhere except online. To order enough for all the windows I'd have to buy a lot. And I would like to actually handle the product first.

So- for now I've spent two dollars on the rolls of paper strips to test out the "streamer" effect. If it works out, I'll buy a large roll of a vinyl version- but I do like the bird scare tape.

My friend said to buy the police crime tape... haha! that would look lovely and the wife would be so happy

Thanks for the tip

[jeffwilliams72]

Yes David, they are made for bird strikes, I bought 6 of them, and I am sorry I can't remember the cost. I know I didn't buy them online though.
I either got them at Orscheln or WildBirdsUnlimited, it has been several years ago, but I do remember a beautiful male Cardinal hit the window and died,that prompted me to get the stickers, and I may very well have paid a high price, but I know I was desperate at that time.

[katkola]

The decals that I mentioned earlier are $6.99 for a package of 8. I see six windows in you photos. The decals are 4x4 or 4x6. Just one on each window would work, but if you put 2 on each window, two packages of 8 would not be that expensive.

You might also look for them cheaper on the web. Just do a search for Window decals for Birds.

[dsonyay]

kat
I looked at those and seems I'd need at least 4 per window spread out evenly. I would think one or two per window would leave too much open space. My window area above the screeded part covers a lot of area.

I guess I can always buy a couple of packs to try. I actually have 8 windows. Another pair is not showing.

[Siberman]

Try hanging an old dvd or cd from a string in front of the window. Keeps the birds out of my fruit trees and tomato plants.

[dsonyay]

CDs are actually a good idea too. Hung with fishing line, they could easily hang from the roof edge in front of the windows.

I have to be a bit careful about what I end up with... the permanant solution has got to be approved by the "house boss." She prefers the link provided above for the window stickers. There'a leaf pattern she likes a lot. thanks!