Bird shaped mark on glass door

[Miranda]

The other day I noticed a mark on the glass of my patio door - it was pale, white and in the shape of a bird, out-stretched wings, body and beak visible, about the size of a ring dove. I presume a bird had flown into the glass but there was no sign of it, or of any feathers indicating a predator had found it. I've read of a similar sight in a fiction book, in which the mark was made by an owl and was regarded as a portent of evil, but did not know if it could happen in reality.

Does anyone know what forms the mark - is it skin scales? feather debris? oil from preening?

As this is the second time a bird has crashed into this door, does anyone know if the stickers one can buy are effective in preventing it? The first was a sparrow which was knocked unconcious but recovered quite quickly when placed in a dark box.

[JoM]

There's some information on window strikes here:

http://www.birdfood.co.uk/pages.php?area_id=1&group_id=7&nav_id=19

and stickers are available here:

http://www.birdfood.co.uk/products.php?area_id=2&nav_id=45

We get quite a few pigeons and the occasional owl flying into our patio doors. We've only ever seen 2 fatalities though, usually they wander around dazed for a while & then fly off. Since putting up some Sentinels (http://www.birdfood.co.uk/products.php?area_id=2&nav_id=45) the number of strikes has fallen dramatically. So they do work :)

[Emma]

We have removable butterfly stickers on our french doors and kitchen window following four strikes. We stuck the stickers up last summer and we've had no strikes since. They are all small stickers and they look pretty when the sun hits them - they are just white when viewed from outside so I guess any kind of sticker works.

One of the four strikes was fatal - female chaffinch.

[Rita 70]

I have black swallow shapes from BTO on my windows since when bird strikes are very rare. Good idea to do this as I have heard an expert say that even those that recover from stunning and fly away may die later from internal bleeding.

[oasisjack]

Ive heard that its better to put swift and swallow shaped stickers on windows as birds of prey stickers tend to frighten song birds away from the garden and its feeders. And they work just as well.

[JoM]

My Mum was worried at first about the bird of prey stickers frightening little birds away. It hasn't made a scrap of difference to the little birds in the garden. They still feed happily on the seed feeder on the patio door quite close to one of the stickers. The only effect they have had, is to stop the number of pigeons/doves braining themselves! :)

[Miranda]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my message. I'll get some window stickers!

[princess in the bluetower]

I have put up a sticker of a cobweb. This has really worked as apparently birds don't like cobwebs because it gets into the feathers. I haven't had any birds flying into the patio doors since.

[Jandy]

I have 3 red birds of prey stickers on my 3 windows facing the garden, not far from the bird feeders, & it hasn't affected the numbers of birds visiting at all. However, we do still get the occasional strike. Only yesterday I saw 2 young starlings collide with the window within a half hour of each other - luckily they flew off, apparently unharmed. It is an idea, though,to put up a cobweb one in the area of the window the birds most collide with. I have to say though, I'm not too keen on cobwebs at the best of times, being a bit of an arachnophobe!

[PiratesAhoy!]

Juvenile starlings tend to bump into things a lot. Just as well that they're quite robust and possibly a little springy too :)

I must admit - I was surprised to see this thread resurrected from the dead! The last post was over 2 years ago! Some nice archaeology there Jandy ;)

[Jandy]

I have not long ago joined the forum, & came across this thread while browsing. It's still very relevant in my case, as I'd do anything to prevent these strikes.

[Lisa]

Hope your enjoying the forum Jandy.

I had a small flock of Starlings in my garden a few weeks back including several young.

Unfortunatley one of the young decided to fly into my kitchen window, couldnt believe how bouncy the little chap was, he was fine after catching his breath for a couple of seconds and flew off, think it startled me and the dog more than anything!!

Its the first time thats happened but if I get any more I will have to put a sticker up.

[Shamal]

I noticed a fabulous imprint of a bird on our kitchen window yesterday. I suspect a collared dove, and there was no sign of a casualty around (collared doves are quite hardy birds).
I've left the imprint for now as it really is very attractive with the outstretched wings.
regards,
Shamal

[Jandy]

As I've mentioned before, I've had quite a few of these strikes, but I've never noticed an imprint left on the glass. I wonder why this happens. Is it dust, or something on the plumage the bird produces naturally? I'll have to inspect my windows closely the next time it happens. They are not the most pristine to start with!