Bird feeders are a popular addition to many gardens, but there’s actually a specific place you should avoid putting them in order to prevent birds from dying
Bird lovers with a bird table in their garden are being urged to reconsider its placement.
Contrary to what you might think, bird tables should be positioned closer to windows, not further away, due to the danger they pose to birds in flight.
Bird tables are a charming feature in many gardens, offering a spot to feed our winged pals throughout the year, complementing a well-kept and natural garden look. With winter upon us, robins, magpies, starlings, and other year-round birds will flock to these feeding stations for some much-needed nourishment.
However, placing your bird table or feeder at an incorrect distance from a window could be deadly for birds. According to the gardening site Wild Birds Unlimited (Wbu.com), bird feeding stations should be situated within three feet (or one meter) of a window or more than ten feet (3 meters) away.
This advice is given to prevent bird strikes, which occur when birds collide with windows, often resulting in fatal injuries, at distances between these measurements. If the feeder is set between three to 10 feet from a window, it’s in the ‘danger zone’ where birds can gain enough momentum to fatally hit the glass.
WBU advises: “Place bird feeding stations within three feet (1 meter) of the window or beyond ten feet (3 meters).” They explain that: “Within three feet, birds ‘fleeing’ the feeder area will not have built up enough speed to injure themselves if they strike the window.”
To address this issue, experts offer some practical advice: “Beyond ten feet, birds will have enough time to spot and avoid the window.” For windows that frequently attract bird collisions, simple modifications can make a difference, reports the Express. They suggest suspending strips across the window at 10cm intervals to make the glass more noticeable.
Additionally, applying films to the window can increase its contrast, helping birds detect and avoid it.
