Preferred Window Treatments for Birds Those of us who follow the avian world of window fashion know that the sleek black hawk silhouette is outmoded, passé, yesterday's news. In its stead, we present the latest collection of spring/fall, in fact year-round, fashions in window wear for the discriminating bird conservationist. All levity aside, we now know that the ubiquitous hawk silhouettes have limited usefulness in preventing birds from hitting windows. They would work extremely well if the window were plastered with them, 80% of its surface covered in visible images, but a single, stationary, attractively-positioned decal rarely does the trick. Birds hit windows not simply because the windows are invisible to them, but because in the window they see the reflection of their natural habitat (trees, shrubs, sky) or they see past the glass to the enormous Ficus benjamina or Norfolk pine sitting inside the room. If two windows at opposite ends of a house or building give a bird the impression that it can sail right through, the bird will be oblivious to the glass barrier. The best deterrent device is one which makes the entire surface of a window non-reflective and opaque from the outside. As part of our campaign to protect birds from windows the Fatal Light Awareness Program is now selling a window film, which our president Michael Mesure has dubbed "CollideEscape". Bright white on the outside to reduce glare, black on the inside to absorb light and allow us to see out the window, the vinyl film adheres to the outside surface of the glass. Thousands of tiny perforations allow ample light to pass through into the room. Other advantages to the product include solar reflective features (the room stays cool in the summer, warmer in the winter), a decrease in ultraviolet radiation, and the opportunity to observe nature up close (such as birds at a feeding station) without being noticed and disturbing the animals' activities. The film can also be used as a substitute for window blinds or as a canvas for bright images or advertising messages. (Torontonians may be familiar with the film as it's used on the outside of our buses.) Window film appears to be the ideal solution to the problem but we recognize that it may not be appropriate for every window. Many other ideas show promise. If you are artistically inclined etch a beautiful image onto the window's exterior surface. It will have a similar effect to the window film, breaking up the reflectivity of the glass, alerting birds to the barrier. Fashion a hawk silhouette out of sheet aluminum or wood and fasten it by chain or rope to an overhang just beyond the window. A moving object works much better than a stationary one at keeping birds at bay, although this may not be the perfect solution. Several commercial devices now on the market: o A two-foot hanging ball with menacing, "moving" i.e. 3D eyes on front and back, sold under the brand name Bird-X Terror Eyes, apparently frightens birds away. o Plastic cat heads with eyes which refract light as the heads turn in the breeze, marketed under the name Scary Cats, alert birds to the presence of a "predator". o The Bird-X Pigeon Hawk, a lifelike replica of a Merlin, hangs by a nylon cord from a 12-foot pole. The manufacturer's literature states: "Riding the air currents, it seems to soar overhead just like the real airborne predator pest birds fear." If you've discovered even one dead bird lying beneath your window or have heard that horrible "thunk" against the glass, we urge you to take action. Try one of these methods or try them all. Help us determine their effectiveness by monitoring the number of birds, if any, that hit the glass after a device has been installed. Contact us at (905) 831-FLAP or visit our Website at www.flap.org with your results, comments and ideas. There are no guarantees, but chances are good that you will save more than a few lives.