BirdLife estimates that an alarming number of birds fly into windows in Finland each year

approximately Millions of birds die in Finland every year from flying into windows, says conservation expert and Bird Atlas coordinator at BirdLife Finland Apo Salmela.

In Finland, few studies have shown how many birds die from colliding with windows, so the estimate is indicative. Migratory birds are particularly prone to collisions, but all kinds of birds can hit windows. Birds that live permanently near buildings learn to better sense the windows around them and avoid them, Salmela said.

– Salmela describes that young birds are also more likely to hit windows than older birds because they are not yet as proficient in flying.

SEYFinnish animal protection expert Sonya Blom The number of birds flying into windows is estimated to have increased even more because many new buildings have larger windows. Windows as large as an entire wall and corners where windows extend on two sides are a particular risk for birds, Blom said. Birds may think they can fly around such corners.

Blom believes that most collisions occur in green areas where trees are reflected from windows, because it is difficult for birds to distinguish between the reflection and the real landscape.

– However, birds fly into windows of all kinds of areas and buildings – whether it is a large glass building in the center or a very ordinary apartment building or single-family house.

Not washing your windows is a good thing for birds. picture: Emmi Korhonen / Magazine Photo

birds Aapo Salmela suggested that collisions with windows could be prevented by reducing their transparency and reflectivity.

– Various curtains and blinds can help, and another tip is to not wash the windows. The more dirt there is on the windows, the better the birds can see.

According to Salmela, there are windows, window films and tapes on the market that can prevent birds from hitting windows. For example, one option is a UV pattern that is indistinguishable to the human eye but visible to birds. Salmela pointed out that the simplest and cheapest way is to take this into account during the planning stage of new buildings, that is, trimming window surfaces and transparent window corners.

Earlier this year, the City of Helsinki published a Bird-Safe Building Guide with more tips, Sonja Blom said.

If the building is already there, you can also try to prevent birds from hitting the windows with measures such as hawk window stickers, or by placing something lightweight and removable in front of the windows as a visual barrier, in which case birds won’t necessarily choose that route. However, Blom says experience with stickers is conflicting.

Blom reminds that every Finn has a legal obligation to help wildlife, which means that in the event of a collision, people should monitor the situation and take action as required. If the bird survives the collision but does not quickly fly back into its own path or is visibly injured, you should contact SEY Finland’s wildlife manager.

– It is also important to remember that a bird that appears to be dead should not be buried until its body has hardened, as a bird that frequently hits a window may appear dead until it is revived.

It is also common for birds to fall, bend over, wake up and take off, but then die from their injuries.

window This isn’t the only danger threatening birds in Finnish yards. The most important threat is pets that roam freely outside, especially cats. For example, Salmela said cats kill about 1.8 million birds a year in Finland, according to a 2015 study by the University of Turku.

– This estimate is on the low side because the study is based on how many birds cats kill and take home for display, but they don’t bring all the birds back, they also kill them elsewhere. Cats should not be released into the wild. Salmela said this is also important from the perspective of the cats’ own safety.

Salmela reminded that felling trees and clearing brush should be done outside the nesting season, as activities during the season are likely to disrupt nesting and damage nests. The breeding season for birds is from early April to the end of July.

For example, many people protect berry bushes from birds in various ways. Blom points out that plastic netting and fencing are particularly dangerous to birds because birds can easily become trapped in them.

– Blom said it’s good to keep the yard as natural as possible from the perspective of all the natural animals.