Bird Collisions

[XUSNORDIE]

My wife's grandparents had a cabin they'd go to on weekends etc. One day they pulled in an her Grandma noticed the frond picture window was broken. The first thing they thought was their place was broken into. When they went and checked it out, they found a dead turkey on the floor.
The picture window and another window were 90 degrees from one another.
We think the turkey was coming in for a landing aiming for the far side of the cabin, cutting through the windows and, BANG!

When I lived in Wytheville VA I was traveling south on I81 and a flock of turkeys flew over the road really low making everyone slow down abruptly....one flew right into a car causing a crazy episode for that driver. No vehicle collisions, and the driver exited that car FAST when he pulled over. Lots of feathers........

 

[Fox Mike]

I have three feeders on my front porch. Two are 'hanging' and one is something I made up many years ago from OH-6A side window pieces Square with a roof. The Cardinals, Blue Jays and squirrels love it. In all the years here I have only had one four legged visitor. One persistent raccoon.. I left the feeder empty for about a week and he never returned.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I have three feeders on my front porch. Two are 'hanging' and one is something I made up many years ago from OH-6A side window pieces Square with a roof. The Cardinals, Blue Jays and squirrels love it. In all the years here I have only had one four legged visitor. One persistent raccoon.. I left the feeder empty for about a week and he never returned.

The squirrels are very entertaining to watch trying to figure out the feeders and different ways to access them. They watch the birds sit on the perch and feed. Then they scoot up the pole, grab the perch and it closes on them. They look so confused. Sometimes it looks like they are doing a pull up workout. They try chewing it also but it's all metal. The racoons are fun also. If I get busy I forget to bring them in until late, well after dark. Now and then when I forget I will turn the deck light on and there will be one to three bandits.....looking at me like "what?". Soon as I slide open the door they take their time getting down, and then climb up a large tree on the side. Many times when on the deck enjoying a summer night bourbon by tiki light you will hear them scratching their way down the tree, staring at us the entire time. In winter when I leave for work it is an hour or so before daylight. I put the feeders up prior to leaving. I've seen the racoons scurry across the side deck/up to the top deck in my headlights. They cant do any harm to the bear "resistant" feeders, but they can open up the suet cages easily. Back before I took precautions to bear proof my garbage cans, you could tell the difference between a bear raid and a racoon raid. Especially the can on lower deck where the grills and smoker are, and where we typically eat. Racoons unwrap everything very neatly.....bears rip it apart. Crows start helping clean it up before we find it.....

Crows also can add mischief.....not a window strike, but they will come on the deck and fight their reflection in the window now and then...that can get noisy.

Gotta love nature and living in a rural area....they are fun to watch....and some are pretty dang tasty (not the song birds )

 

[Sam Summey]

I get it when people enjoy bird watching or feeding them or whatever. But to discriminate against one species in favor of another, such as shooing away a hawk that catches a squirrel or bird, or a coon raiding a nest of eggs, or killing a snake climbing into a bird nest isn't allowing things to be natural.

We humans alter wildlife way too much. Stop regulated hunting a species,, and there will be a problem. Stop regulated trapping,, and there will be a problem. Feed wildlife and there will be a problem. Heck,, remember the cartoon; "Yogi Bear" ad the ranger always going after people feeding the bears? We've put wolves in some places,, with the intent of restoring a balance. But then don't allow regulation of the numbers of the wolves. Wolves leave the location when food sources or pack rivalry and go after livestock. Heck,, I read a story in the NRA magazine, under "Armed Citizen" where 3 teens went goose hunting,, and a pack of 9 wolves were stalking them until one teen killed a wolf.

My point is that there has always been prey & predators.
We humans alter this into an imbalance.
Feeding a lot of birds,, but killing cats is no different.

And our houses,, built in a manner that allows animals to decide to build a nest or den in. Or allows birds to fly into windows.

Moving feeders to a place where they can allow a bit of feeding,, can and does prevent window strikes. And if you study your house,, and figure out a way to put a pulley system up,, or alter the location can be done. I get paid to help people do this all the time. Even if you put up a 100 yd pulley system,, does NOT mean you have to put the feeder 100 yds away.

My point to all my posts is that there are ways to co-exist with wildlife,, enjoy seeing them,, but also protecting them AND your homes. I'm not saying stop feeding birds,, or whatever. But I get paid to inspect houses & consult people on this very thing.

I don't believe in feeding wildlife, it turns them into Democrats, next thing they will want to vote too.

 

[contender]

Sam has heard my story.

Not too long after my local Congressman got elected 20 years ago,, (Patrick McHenry,) I was at a small function with him. He asked me what I did for a living. I replied; "I deal with democratic animals." Of course,, I got the funny look and he asked; "What?"
I said; "I deal with wildlife. They come to people's houses, eat the bird seed, dog or cat food, move into people's homes, don't pay rent or taxes then complain when I evict them!"
He busted out laughing saying he was going to take that one back to Washington.

Now,, PLEASE, PLEASE do not comment about this, turning it into a political discussion. I made a joke, and I've repeated it often. even here. Congressman McHenry & I enjoyed a good laugh.

 

[Ranger]

I experienced levitation a couple nights ago. It was late, a snow storm was taking place, and I was deep in concentration working on the computer when something slammed hard into a patio window or sliding glass door a few feet away. Best guess is a big bird going fast. Checked the next day; but the snow was about a foot and a half deep so didn't look close / dig down.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I experienced levitation a couple nights ago. It was late, a snow storm was taking place, and I was deep in concentration working on the computer when something slammed hard into a patio window or sliding glass door a few feet away. Best guess is a big bird going fast. Checked the next day; but the snow was about a foot and a half deep so didn't look close / dig down.

Let us know what you eventually find, if anything. I'm especially interested since it was night. Only so many birds fly at night, typically.

I would have had to investigate immediately, and not wait to next day to quench my curiosity.

 

[peachhead]

I have the occasional bird flying into the windows at home, not that often. Also have the occasional bird beating himself up via the mirrors on my truck. That's annoying because of the poop everywhere.
Once I had an owl fly into the side of my truck. That almost gave me a heart attack.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Also have the occasional bird beating himself up via the mirrors on my truck

I get that a lot with Cardinals.....so territorial......I've also had Turkeys peck and spur my rear bumper when parked in the driveway. Goofy birds!

 

[contender]

One other thing that can assist in lowering the potential bird strikes into home glass, is have window tinting done. I know many really prefer the clear, bright glass & sun,, but tinting can reduce the bird issues.

Just another thought. But not something many ever do.

 

[peachhead]

One other thing that can assist in lowering the potential bird strikes into home glass, is have window tinting done. I know many really prefer the clear, bright glass & sun,, but tinting can reduce the bird issues.

Just another thought. But not something many ever do.

Actually mine are tinted. So maybe that does help.

 

[Sam Summey]

Our front window (double pane) seal failed, mold started growing between the glass. I paid BIG bucks to have the front window replaced. Less than a year later a bird like a Cardinal attacked the glass because of his reflection. The front window now has a permanent 1/4" divot in the outside pane.

 

[Ranger]

I checked this morning and didn't find anything. I didn't dig down in the snow; but it was no longer very deep so... maybe whatever it was made it. We have a big owl that we've seen several times lately. I wonder if it was it.

 

[Ranger]

I did a cursory look when it happened to ensure it wasn't a person...

I also realize my OP sounds funny regarding window door. A window is at the end of my desk. A sliding glass patio door is about a foot east of it. Not sure which was hit but it was close.

If it was an owl, I hope it is OK. I'm counting on it to help thin out some rabbits that chew on my trees. And maybe a skunk that I suspect is hanging out under a portable building.

 

[bocash3]

I put these vinyl decals on the patio door where most bird deaths have occurred.
They are working!

 

[Fox Mike]

Once I had an owl fly into the side of my truck. That almost gave me a heart attack.

I too had an owl fly into my car. Drivers door below the mirror. As soon as the 'crash' occurred I thought I had been shot at then realized what had happened. Feathers flew instantly and had a dent in the door. Stopped the car but couldn't find the culprit.