Shane Hollander is not a bird murderer! So, he really needs to do something about his cottage...

Across North America, at least a billion (1,000,000,000!) wild birds are brutally killed each year by colliding with untreated glass on buildings. Most collisions happen at low-rise and residential buildings, such as cottages. Where there is bird habitat and green space around a building with a lot of glass, collisions are more likely to occur. Big untreated windows and glass railings in cottage country are a huge threat! In Canada, it is illegal for building owners to kill birds by causing collisions.

We love that Shane and Ilya get to retreat to a safe space at the cottage, and we don't want their time together interrupted by hearing nasty thuds against the glass and sights of birds dying painfully outside. The Canadian wolf bird (common loon) and many other species that collide with windows are not stupid: they just struggle to detect reflective and see-through glass surfaces that humans use on buildings. It's up to owners of cottages and homes to take action and prevent birds from suffering harm as a result of their aesthetic preferences.

Simple and inexpensive solutions can prevent bird collisions with glass: Applying visual markers across the exterior of the glass – on a window AND glass railings – can help birds recognize these are obstacles to avoid.

Solutions can be as simple as drawing a pattern on the outside with a paint marker costing less than $5, applying a roll of window film or tape, or hanging a curtain of strings outside. New buildings, including homes and cottages, can be constructed using bird safe glass materials – easier than retrofitting glass later! Making glass safe for birds does not really impact your views, as many solutions are nearly invisible from inside.

To prevent collisions:

• cover the entire glass surface with visual markers (e.g., dots, lines)
• do not leave gaps between markers greater than 5 cm (2") for markers applied directly to glass, or 10 cm (4" for hanging strings) 
• make sure the markers are applied on the outside surface of the glass (interior applications are much less effective)
• do not leave glass untreated for any period of time

We hope Shane Hollander reads this and considers not killing birds at his cottage. Maybe he and Ilya can spend an afternoon treating the glass together.  It's fun and easy!

To learn more about how to treat your windows, check out the following resources:

• Stop Birds from Hitting Windows: Solutions from FLAP Canada
• American Bird Conservancy: Products that reduce bird collisions
• Video message from author Margaret Atwood: treat your windows
• Government of Canada: FAQs about bird collisions with glass

For more information or to request educational materials about bird collisions for your local cottage club or association, reach out to FLAP Canada at birdsafe@flap.org