Our garden birds - Harsh winter weather can spell doom

[SAT]

The four red wings I had gracing my garden each day have departed unfortunately. Our resident blackbird seems happier though. He didn't seem to know quite how to take them. He regularly chases other birds away but seemed very wary of the red wings.

[zippo222]

My couple of fieldfares departed on Saturday. As the Baron said, foul weather friends. Was nice to see them up close though. I'd say "my" blackbirds are glad to see them go too. Always put out the odd apple for them but since I took Beanie's tip of microwaving them for a couple of minutes they're getting through 7 or 8 apples a day.

(Correction. Seven or eight apple halves.)

[Baron von Biffo]

Speaking of spring - it will soon be upon us and our winged friends will set about nesting. On a radio programme last year (possibly Mooney,) someone suggested that dog owners could leave out their pet's clippings and hair taken from brushes and the birds would use it for nesting.

I took her idea on board and left small amounts of dog hair in cracks in the wall and stuck into forks in the shrub branches. It was all taken quickly but the only birds I spotted grabbing it were blue tits.

If anyone decides to do this it's best not to leave out large clumps because a sudden spring shower will turn them into an unsightly blob that the birds wont use (voice of experience )

I've already started stuffing a bag for this year.

[Andrew49]

Over 100 million birds die each year due to collisions with human built structures. Daniel Klem, a biologist at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, has been studying the problem for three decades and cites window strikes as a major cause of bird fatality.Many birds strike windows after being startled off a wild bird feeders. It is the reflective and transparent characteristics of glass that make windows invisible killers. Birds see the tree reflected in the window or the plant behind the glass not the glass itself. If a bird can see through to the outside through two aligned windows in your home, they confuse them for a tunnel and will attempt to fly through to get to the other side. Also during the breeding season, territorial males may see their reflection in the glass and repeatedly attack the perceived intruder.

# Place bird feeders very close (within three feet) or at least ten yards away from windows. Wild bird feeders placed within three feet of windows can reduce fatal collisions because birds do not have an adequate distance to reach high flight velocity. Placing the feeders more than 30 feet from a window will also reduce window collision risk because, at that distance, birds are more likely to recognize that the reflected image is part of a house and are less likely to fly toward it for safety.

# Draw white or light-colored window shades, blinds, or drapes which eliminate much of the mirror effect or transparency of windows.

Source

[maxthedog]

Over 100 million birds die each year due to collisions with human built structures. Daniel Klem, a biologist at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, has been studying the problem for three decades and cites window strikes as a major cause of bird fatality.Many birds strike windows after being startled off a wild bird feeders. It is the reflective and transparent characteristics of glass that make windows invisible killers. Birds see the tree reflected in the window or the plant behind the glass not the glass itself. If a bird can see through to the outside through two aligned windows in your home, they confuse them for a tunnel and will attempt to fly through to get to the other side. Also during the breeding season, territorial males may see their reflection in the glass and repeatedly attack the perceived intruder.

# Place bird feeders very close (within three feet) or at least ten yards away from windows. Wild bird feeders placed within three feet of windows can reduce fatal collisions because birds do not have an adequate distance to reach high flight velocity. Placing the feeders more than 30 feet from a window will also reduce window collision risk because, at that distance, birds are more likely to recognize that the reflected image is part of a house and are less likely to fly toward it for safety.

# Draw white or light-colored window shades, blinds, or drapes which eliminate much of the mirror effect or transparency of windows.

Source

Every year swallows nest in my garage.

And everyear when I enter the garage the starled birds fly straight into a big pane of glass. As 60% of one wall is a large window.

And not once has a bird been killed, and my garage is 30" long.

So I think the above study is rubbish.

[Ecoguy]

So I think the above study is rubbish.

I think the study was rather more wide-ranging and scientific then your anecdote

PS; Structures like poorly sighted pylons, wind turbines etc. have had a devasting impact on vunerable species of birds of prey, cranes etc.

[beanie]

Joshua Klein on the intelligence of crows | Video on TED.com

[Christel]

Over 100 million birds die each year due to collisions with human built structures. Daniel Klem, a biologist at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, has been studying the problem for three decades and cites window strikes as a major cause of bird fatality.Many birds strike windows after being startled off a wild bird feeders. It is the reflective and transparent characteristics of glass that make windows invisible killers. Birds see the tree reflected in the window or the plant behind the glass not the glass itself. If a bird can see through to the outside through two aligned windows in your home, they confuse them for a tunnel and will attempt to fly through to get to the other side. Also during the breeding season, territorial males may see their reflection in the glass and repeatedly attack the perceived intruder.

# Place bird feeders very close (within three feet) or at least ten yards away from windows. Wild bird feeders placed within three feet of windows can reduce fatal collisions because birds do not have an adequate distance to reach high flight velocity. Placing the feeders more than 30 feet from a window will also reduce window collision risk because, at that distance, birds are more likely to recognize that the reflected image is part of a house and are less likely to fly toward it for safety.

# Draw white or light-colored window shades, blinds, or drapes which eliminate much of the mirror effect or transparency of windows.

Source

It happened some morning last summer. I was in the kitchen and heard this big bang. It was a blackbird who had hit the window in full speed. As you said, two opposite windows in the kitchen. It died quickly. I was so annoyed. It must have been a young bird, because we have many blackbirds and it didn't happen before with them. But I also think I had cleaned the windows shortly before. I was very annoyed. It was a beautiful morning.
Smaller birds now and then hit the windows, but it seems they are mostly just a bit dizzy and recover. Is it more fatal for larger birds to hit windows because of their weight/speed?

[Malbekh]

I know at this time of the year the Magpies gather together in enough numbers to make the 'one for sorrow, two for joy....' rhyme redundant. However, last week in Deer Park I counted 47 of them all larking about gathering sticks together and having a good time.

Much that I like those rogues, it seemed a tad too high.

[Baron von Biffo]

Over 100 million birds die each year due to collisions with human built structures. Daniel Klem, a biologist at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, has been studying the problem for three decades and cites window strikes as a major cause of bird fatality.Many birds strike windows after being startled off a wild bird feeders. It is the reflective and transparent characteristics of glass that make windows invisible killers. Birds see the tree reflected in the window or the plant behind the glass not the glass itself. If a bird can see through to the outside through two aligned windows in your home, they confuse them for a tunnel and will attempt to fly through to get to the other side. Also during the breeding season, territorial males may see their reflection in the glass and repeatedly attack the perceived intruder.

# Place bird feeders very close (within three feet) or at least ten yards away from windows. Wild bird feeders placed within three feet of windows can reduce fatal collisions because birds do not have an adequate distance to reach high flight velocity. Placing the feeders more than 30 feet from a window will also reduce window collision risk because, at that distance, birds are more likely to recognize that the reflected image is part of a house and are less likely to fly toward it for safety.

# Draw white or light-colored window shades, blinds, or drapes which eliminate much of the mirror effect or transparency of windows.

Source

One of the sites I browsed looking for tips during the freeze had a particular type of spiders web sticker that purported to stop window strikes. I can't find it now but someone else might know the URL.