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Bird help

pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
in Wildlife gardening
Good afternoon.

Two long tailed tits have been flying repeatedly against the windows of both the shed and garage. They have done so at least on 15 different occasions, each time flying from a nearby tree to the window (repeatedly), gently flying against the glass as if to push through. I was thinking that they’re looking for a place to nest, but I’ve read that they prefer thorny bushes for that. They’re doing it again just as I’m writing this.

Can anyone help?

Thank you.
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Posts

  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    They can probably see their reflections in the glass and think they are competitors for the territory.
    I get the same with bluetits and shiny door handles!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • pottering girlpottering girl Posts: 236
    Are they trying to get the small flies (gnats) or is there a spider's web?? 
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    edited March 2019
    That might be it, @madpenguin. I didn’t think of that. Should I cut out a ‘predatory’ bird silhouette and bluetack it on the window?
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    No flies or spiderwebs that I can see.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    They often collect the spider webs and cocoons from around windows for nesting material.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    It didn’t really look like it was collecting anything. They were flapping their wings quite vigorously almost hovering in the air, pushing agains the glass (not in the corners either, but towards the centre of the window). My modest bird of prey silhouette didn’t work, the tit just used the edge of the paper to anchor its feet in order to keep balance better. My cutting skills have been laughed at.
  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619
    Why not just drape a blanket over the window until they get the hint?
  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    edited April 2019
    Sounds like territorial behaviour to me as Bob says just hang a piece of fleece or something to stop the reflection they will soon stop, if not they could injure or even kill themselves.

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    To stop birds flying into windows we have cut out photos of raptors and stuck on the inside of the windows, it is the reflection of shrubs and trees that cause the problem.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2019
    We’ve done the same ... in the past we’ve found a  Song thrush, a Waxwing and a snipe dead on our terrace by the big studio windows ... they face East and it seems that the birds are confused by the reflected dawn sky ... it’s not happened again since we put the stick on photos of raptors on the window a couple of years ago ...fingers very 🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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