There are several things I really love about my house, and right at the top of that list is . . . all of the windows. (We have lots of windows.)
I especially love the giant window in my living room that looks out onto my garden. (There’s actually a “matching” window – without the arch on the top, and just a smidge smaller – on the exact opposite wall of the house, in another room. You can see all the way through my house through those two windows.) I love being able to look out that back window – in any season – and see my garden. In fact, when I designed the garden, I considered carefully how it could be viewed from inside — out the windows, and especially out that particular window.
There was one thing I really didn’t consider, though . . . and, at first, I thought this thing was an unintentional bonus feature . . . because that giant window becomes a “mirror” from the outside each afternoon, reflecting the garden perfectly in its surface. I thought it looked really cool from the outside . . . a lovely reflection of my garden right there on the outside of my house.
But.
From time to time, the birds in my garden couldn’t tell it was a reflection, and they flew right into the window! While none of these bird “mistakes” ended in bird death (that I know of . . .), the poor birds were often stunned and would sit quietly in the garden below the window, gathering themselves until they could fly away on their own again.
I felt terrible about this, and struggled with just what to do about it. How to balance my love for that window – and my view of the garden – with my love of the birds . . . and my horror of hearing them crash into the glass.
Earlier this spring, I finally decided to take action. (It was a flicker. He crashed into the window really hard, and it took him several hours to recover. I was heartbroken.) (He did recover, though. I still see him in my garden nearly every day.)
I ordered some window cling stickers (these, from Etsy), and Tom helped me “install” them on the window. The stickers are really nice — simple, easy-to-install. But I really don’t care for them at all. (I REALLY liked that unobstructed view of my garden out that window.) I know that it’s the right thing to do, though . . . caring for the birds that also enjoy my garden every day.
So now I have a “warning sign” on my window . . . alerting the birds that the reflection-garden they see in the glass is actually NOT a garden. And, since installing the window clings, there have been no birds crashing into the glass. These prism-circle window clings seem to be doing the trick — and, generally, it was an easy fix.
I’m getting used to having them there.
And I know it was the absolutely right thing to do.
Besides . . . the circles and rings make for some interesting “visuals!” I love the shadows they cast. And sometimes they do work as prisms and reflect little rainbow patterns across the carpet. And on hot, rainy mornings, they look kind of magical amidst the window condensation.
I actually find myself wondering . . . how they’ll look with winter behind them. Or how they’ll look with my fairy lights.
Sometimes you just need to sacrifice form . . . for function.
(And doing the right thing is never wrong.)
Amy Tan writes about this in her Backyard Bird Chronicles book. I learned so much about doing what is right from that book. We have robins who seem to throw themselves at one window in the spring not matter how much we decorate the space to ward them off. Those little rings on the floor are enchanting
Oh! I love them! The shadows/rainbows are just perfection! (and keeping birds from injury is a huge perk!)
That thud of a bird against the window is awful. We’ve got one big window that they seem especially attracted to so I’m considering those circles. I really like them (and especially the shadows they cast)!
I can understand why you’d be reluctant to give up your unobstructed view of your garden but I’m glad you made the sacrifice for the birds.
I like them too…and the shadows they cast. Well done you! We have birds crash into our sliding doors to the patio from time to time. We’ve put a black bird sticker on them and also a spider web, but we still get crashes. I’m always looking around to be sure Mabel is not near when a crash happens.
On the plus side, they look like bubbles to me – I think that would cheer me up!
I’m sure that once you get used to them, you won’t dislike them as much — and certainly they’re preferable to birds crashing into the windows!
Years ago, when I was still in the office every day, there was one particularly neurotic robin who would repeatedly attack his reflection in my office window. I tried putting up a bird silhouette, but it did nothing. And he’d come back again and again. I think it was just a particularly dumb bird.
We too have some large windows and live on a wooded lot, which has effectively become a bird sanctuary. Over the years I have observed several reasons why birds fly into the windows.
1. There is a hawk or other predatory bird nearby. When the smaller birds sense the predators, they take off in a hurry without paying much attention to where they are headed. I’ve tried silhouettes on the windows and that doesn’t matter in this case.
2. This spring it seemed that all the bird species fledged from their nests during the same week (just a couple weeks ago). We happened to be hanging around on the patios a lot this year and were able to observe this more closely. When those little ones fledge, they have very little control of where they are headed. We watched one Carolina wren launch from a tree branch onto a window screen and cling to it until the mother encouraged it to let go. One blue jay fledgling got caught in a vine on a tree and was hanging upside down by his leg until my husband released him, much to the consternation of the parent. So during fledging…beware they are like drunken sailors until they get control.
3. As others mentioned, every now and then a robin or a house wren will get it in their head to attack a window, or even a mirror on a car. I’ve never figured out what starts the cycle, but once they get it in their head, they will not be deterred. We’ve tried everything….reflectors on the window, fake owls, streamers, toy windmills. They just have to work it out of their system.
I do have blinds on the windows, so I just close the blinds. Which obstructs the view, but keeps the house cool (they are thermal pleated shades).
Great idea! Scout will freak but we might give those a try. We found it was much more problematic when the shades were down (that birds would fly into them).
I had considered these for our slider during a particularly active period of fly-ins. I’m glad to hear they work.
We are a large wide window at the back of our house and I love looking out it, but had the same issues as you did. I found decals to add to the windows – very similar to your circles, but they are maple leaves. I don’t even see them anymore, but for the most part, the birds do!😉
When I first saw the rings, they reminded me of bubbles … and then seeing their shadows among the rainbows on the floor, I think they promise much delight in all the seasons. and so much better for the birds!
Well, if that isn’t the best solution to a problem I don’t know what is! You still have your view, although slightly altered and the birds still have their brains (birdbrain, get it? Ha ha) Your comment regarding “designing” your garden made me reflect on how crafting and gardening and such is so valuable for young minds. Not only can you design the world around you (to a degree, anyway!) but you learn how to make choices and have confidence in those choices and you learn to problem-solve at the same time. As someone with a couple of young minds to help develop, your window problem description just now affirms my belief in the value of crafting in particular. (There are, luckily, other people to help with the gardening!)
Well, I love that shadow pattern on your rug! A bright spot. 😉 Good for you, watching out for your feathered neighbors.
I can see how it would be hard to put those cling stickers on that beautiful view but the noise of a bird hitting a window is rather sickening. The pattern of shadows is beautiful. Thank you for looking out for the birds.
Reading over the comments just now (one of my fun morning-coffee activities), I wonder if anyone is old enough to remember Mr. Peepers, a situation comedy from the 50’s. He was a shy science teacher whose hobby was birdwatching. As children we thought he was so nerdy…but look at us all now:).
You did the right thing and the circles look pretty cool. If my window is perfectly clean (without Mylo nose marks) I’ve had birds hit the window with a thud that I can hear all over the house. Once I had a perfect dust mark of an angle! It was hard to wash that one off and I let it stay for awhile. Reflective windows kill so many bird. I wish the powers that be would stop using them in downtown buildings that reflect the sky. Thank you for keeping birds safe.