4 Simple Things You Can Do to Help Migrating Birds Right Now

Lots of birds are migrating through right now, some leaving, some just arriving!

Here are 4 simple things you can do to help them along in their journeys.

1.   Help prevent daytime window collisions.

Birds will fly into windows because they see nature in the glass and think they can fly right through.     You can make your windows more visible to birds by applying UV  reflective decals (available at the Bird House and other nature stores) to the outside of the windows. You can also put strips or blocks of tape on the most deadly windows.

I’m sure these folks appreciate the plug from me.

2.  Guard against nighttime window collisions.

In the spring and fall, turn off exterior lights and draw curtains at night to prevent migratory birds from colliding with windows.  Birds migrate at night and are fatally attracted to lights on buildings.

3.  Leave leaves under trees and shrubs – they make excellent foraging sites.

Less work for you, more places for birds that are passing through to find insects that they need to fuel their journeys.

4.  Put up a bird feeder.

Feeders provide supplementary food for birds that can help them fuel up for their journeys.    Feeder placement is very important in preventing window collisions.  Feeders are safest when they’re closest to windows, or even attached to windows or frames—because if a bird takes off from the feeder and hits the window, it won’t be going at top speed and has a better chance of surviving. Place feeders closer than 3 feet to a window, or farther than 30 feet from a window.

The most popular food  with birds is black oil sunflower seed, which is readily available in nature stores, grocery stores, and hardware stores.

 

For more information on what you can do to help birds around your own home, here are some links:

FLAP  (Protecting birds from window collisions)

Bird feeding basics

Who migrates when?