This Spring, while you are refreshing your backyard for the birds, they are refreshing their location. You can watch the birds on their migratory path at BirdCast
It is also important to remember that migrating birds may not be familiar with your house. Now is a great time to make sure your windows are clearly marked, and other steps are taken to prevent bird strikes. First, it is important to make sure that objects are applied to the outside of the window, as only external things will help birds to realize that there is something, not a continuation of their habitat, in front of them.
You can even get creative with your solutions. If you have paint markers, these are one option, and if you want to let your kids join in the fun and educational opportunity, this can be a great option. Paracord is another option for helping to provide a visual break for birds.
It is also important to consider the distance of your birdfeeder from windows. Three feet is the best distance, as birds will typically not have picked up enough speed to have a fatal collision, but they still have the opportunity to avoid the window.
This episode of the Nature Centered Podcast includes important information about how you can help prevent window bird strikes, and the information above is summarized based on this episode. The Guest on this episode is Olivia and she is from Birds Canada. As a side note, with New York bordering Canada, and since we are entering Spring and our thoughts turn to gardening, you can also look at their resources for Gardening for Birds, for more information about creating a garden habitat that is made for the birds, too. This link provides more information about Gardening for Birds.
