The Reason Bird Lovers Should Clean Their Windows Less Often

Cross one more task off your chore list: dirty windows can help keep visiting birds alive! Nearly 1 billion birds die each year in the U.S. from hitting windows. If you're a bird lover, you've probably heard the awful "thunk" of a bird striking your window. It's tragic to see the stunned or dead feathered friend beneath your window. It's even more heartbreaking when the bird leaves a visible imprint of their body on the glass. So, let your dirty windows be. It can make birds less likely to fly into them, since they are less reflective when they are not-so-clean.

To avoid this tragedy, create a responsible backyard bird habitat by taking steps to prevent birds from flying into your windows. Saving birds is a great excuse for letting the dirt accumulate on your panes, but there are times when we just have to break out the soap and squeegee. However, you can have the best of both worlds. Enjoy the satisfaction of sparkling glass at the right time, and try some deliberate "dirtying" for your windows with a variety of bird-saving tricks.

Birds often hit windows when they see reflections of trees or sky, thinking it's just a continuation of their environment. They also can mistake their reflection for another bird and try to attack it. The luckiest of bird victims may be a bit stunned and then fly away, but many immediately perish. Even ones who seem to recover from an impact often die later from their injuries. Embracing the smudges, bugs, paw prints, and more on our windows will dull the reflections and reduce the likelihood of birds making fatal mistakes.

When we put together a backyard visitor center for birds, it's also common to place feeders and bird baths on or near windows so we can watch the adorable birds in action. However, there's a decent amount of evidence that window feeders may not be the best idea. Placing feeders near windows puts birds at risk of flying into them, resulting in injury or death.

Even the laziest homeowner will eventually be driven to scrub away the muck from their windows. The key is doing it at the right time while putting some other preventative measures in place to keep the birds safe. Joanna Eckles, coordinator for Project Birdsafe, says to wash your windows after the birds have migrated through your region (via Audubon)

If you absolutely must clean up your windows before migration, add a little "dirt" back to your panes to let the birds know it's not open air. Make marks on your windows with a bar of soap or a bit of tempera paint. You can also use stencils with your soap or paint for added appeal. An oil-based marker can be used to convert your prevention into a work of art. If you don't have artistic ability, don't despair; there are several clever marker hacks that are an easy way to bird-proof your window without being unsightly.