Preventing collisions of birds with glass

[Marhi]

Hi all,

I am interested in wild birds as much as in those in zoos. As many of enclosures are made from glass, they can be dangerous for wild birds. Some areas are now protected by sticks or another things which prevent birds to hit the glass area. I am happy with these steps but it can disturbe visitors.

I am talking about dots which seem to be popular in our Zoos. They were put on glass areas in (for example) at Prague Zoo (CZ) or Jihlava (CZ). I am happy with it (life of bird is more than photo for me) but my friends are upset with them as its hard observe animals thru glass with this protection and photographing is more challenging.

For example: Zoologická zahrada Jihlava

So I would love to know how many types of protection can be at zoos. Do you seen any interesting one? Do you have any photos of different types of protection? I just wonder if its possible do this in better way, more comfortable for viewers and photographers.

Thank you and I hope you find this topic interesting.

 

[Daktari JG]

The bird decals are effective and not as obtrusive as those dots

 

[birdsandbats]

Those dots are awful! I agree the life of a bird means more to me than a photo, but decals work fine and those are ugly and likely hard to see through.

 

[Echobeast]

We have started using the opaque bird decals on some of our exhibit windows. Some are for the zoo’s birds and some are for wild birds but I’d like to get them on more buildings on campus.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

While the below is not a zoo exhibit, it is an example of the bird decals I most often find when visiting zoos with glass viewing structures:

Zoos often space the decals a little further apart than that, so viewing and photography go virtually unaffected.

I forget where, but I've also come across faint straight lines on glass panels as well which are not too bothersome.

~Thylo

 

[FunkyGibbon]

Those dots are awful! I agree the life of a bird means more to me than a photo, but decals work fine and those are ugly and likely hard to see through.

In person they are far less problematic, especially when you stand at the glass.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

In person they are far less problematic, especially when you stand at the glass.

Agreed. When I visited I thought they were odd but I never found them too annoying.

~Thylo

 

[HOMIN96]

The bird decals are effective

Not every time though...apparently the birds can learn that there is no danger of predator attack.

 

[birdsandbats]

Not every time though...apparently the birds can learn that there is no danger of predator attack.

That's not how they work. It is well-known that a predator-like shape only deters birds for a few weeks at most - the birds do eventually learn that the predators aren't real. The actual reason window decals work is because when they see something floating there, they realize that something is physically there, so they don't fly into it. Of course, they can't completely prevent window strikes, but they make them much less common.

 

[Jurek7]

The placement of glass may be more important. Especially, glass placed in front of a well lit area, which looks like a bird could fly through. Removing such places might also help to stop animals pacing in front of the glass.