I read with great interest Kevin Ma's article in the July 30th Gazette about wild birds striking windows. We have bird feeders and tall trees in our yard, and we were experiencing bird hits until a few years ago.
At that time we started using the UV reflective decals, which eliminated the problem for the kitchen window facing our deck. The decals fade and lose effectiveness after about six months, which is not a problem if you can reach the windows easily, but a problem arises with second floor windows because you need to climb a ladder twice a year to replace the decals.
I found a solution in an article in a nature magazine. It is possible to make permanent bird deterrents easily with a couple of inexpensive materials: plastic J channel, available from building supply stores, and parachute cord, available from sporting goods outlets. I mounted the ones I made over the upstairs windows early this spring and haven't had a bird hit since. You can get instructions on how to make them online at www.BirdSavers.com.
Alan Beacham, St. Albert
