Here in Salt Lake City, like many cities across the US, we are seeing more and more bird strikes on windows. It is not just on high-rise buildings either but Salt Lake City homes. This is because, as the density of our population increases here in SLC so too does the likelihood of collisions of birds with glass. Sadly this is not just a Salt Lake City problem but a global issue because worldwide over 2 billion birds are killed each year from window collisions. It is critical to understand why this is happening and how you can help stop it because it is endangering countless species in the communities in which we live. Giving rise to an unbalanced ecosystem that has far-reaching consequences for us all.
Why Do Birds Fly Into Windows?
The issue birds face with windows is–they are unable to distinguish glass from open air. In a day and age where glass is becoming more reflective, windows are nearly impossible for them to differentiate open sky. This is why tactics like putting a sticker of a large bird of prey on your Salt Lake City home’s window won’t work. While these smaller birds may see the bird or prey, they will instinctively use their best defense, their maneuverability, and try to fly around it. When this happens the bird collides with the window anyway–almost always resulting in death.
How Can We Prevent Bird Strikes On Windows
Scientist worldwide have been studying different ways to keep birds and windows from lethal run-ins. There are several “solutions” out there but arguably, none of them work as well as- bird strike prevention films. These types of films are also referred to as “fretted”. What fretted means is a pattern, imprinted on the film that regularly repeats. Birds recognize these patterns as objects and therefore avoid the window which would otherwise appear as open sky to them. The pattern itself consists of horizontal lines, vertical lines, and/or dots but these films are also customizable. However, when choosing a pattern the key to success is making sure the lines, dots or other objects are spaced no more than two inches apart and vertical lines no more than four inches. If the pattern is outside of these parameters the birds will attempt to fly through the gaps in the pattern. The amazing thing about fretted films to prevent bird strikes on your Salt Lake City home is–they are barely noticeable on your windows. However, the best part, by far, is that fretted films also come with many of the benefits of window films do.
- Added security
- UV protection
- Increased energy efficient
- Glare control
- Easy to remove and install
For more information on these types of bird strike prevention films or any others contact us at Greenlight Window Films/Salt Lake City today!