Used to just tape paper over my windows, now I use proper bird tape

For about three years I just stuck random pieces of printer paper on my sliding glass door. It looked terrible but I figured it was enough. Then last spring I found a dead cedar waxwing under that same window and felt awful. I finally ordered some special translucent bird tape online for 12 bucks. Now I put vertical stripes four inches apart on the outside of the glass. The birds actually see it now and I have not had a single strike in 8 months. Has anyone else noticed a big difference after switching from DIY stuff to proper window decals?

2 comments

2 Comments

blairwhite1mo ago

Yeah I actually saw a study from some university (maybe Cornell?) that said birds can't see clear glass at all but they can see UV light reflected off some materials. Regular printer paper blocks light but doesn't have that UV flash birds need to register "oh hey that's a solid object." @the_lucas I thought the same way until I read that and realized tape stripes spaced properly actually catch their attention before they hit. The 4 inch gap on my door literally made every bird veer away mid flight, it's wild.

the_lucas1mo ago

Huh, one dead bird and you're already dropping twelve bucks on tape? Seems like overkill to me, I've had paper up for years and never seen a single body.

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