Adopt One Simple Habit To Help Keep Birds From Crashing Into Your Windows

Windows are one of the top causes of death for birds, with about 600 million dying annually by flying into windows in the U.S. alone, per a 2014 report published by The Condor. Whether you're a homeowner or renter, you can do your part to prevent birds from flying into your windows. One simple habit makes a huge difference: all you have to do is turn off your lights or close your curtains at night.

Bird collisions fall into one of two types: daytime and nighttime. During the day, windows may reflect the sky and plant life surrounding your home, which birds mistake for an actual view to fly towards. They may even mistake their reflection for another bird and fly aggressively toward it. To prevent this type of collision, making your windows more visible is key. For example, you can mark the window with paint or a marker to prevent birds from hitting the windows.

Nighttime collisions, on the other hand, typically happen because migrating birds are attracted to artificial light. They fly toward brightly lit buildings, which can throw them off course in addition to causing collisions. Research shows that turning off or dimming lights makes a big difference, especially during migration season. For example, a 2021 study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that decreasing the lights typically kept on in a large building could reduce bird deaths by around 60%.

Turning off the lights to prevent bird collisions is especially important during migration season. There are two bird migration seasons every year: spring and fall. In spring, migration peaks between April and May, depending on where you are in the U.S., while fall migration season typically lasts from September to November. Check a migration forecasting tool to find specific and up-to-date information for your area.

At these times of year, be extra mindful of turning off lights that aren't essential after the sun sets. For rooms that you do need lit after the sun goes down, close the curtains or blinds so that less light escapes from the windows. These steps are especially crucial for rooms above the third floor. On these floors, use lamps instead of overhead lights at night. Furthermore, birds are attracted to red, yellow, and white lights that are continuous, so avoid these.

Exterior lights are just as important as interior lights for preventing bird injuries, as they attract birds to the area. At nighttime, turn off outdoor lights if you can, especially floodlights and those that light up gardens or trees. Save the cute DIY lights on your backyard patio for the summer when migration season is over, or switch to blue or green bulbs. For security lights, install a motion sensor so they're not constantly running, and use downward-facing lights that birds are less likely to spot from the sky.