Glass deck railings give homeowners unobstructed views of their gardens, surrounding trees, and the San Francisco Bay. The issue is that birds can see through the glass and either take it for open space or see the reflection of the foliage and assume it’s open space. This can cause birds to collide with railings and be injured or killed. ClimatePro recently installed Bird Divert window film on the glass deck railing of a home in Tiburon, CA, to reduce bird strikes while maintaining an unobstructed view.
Why Is Untreated Glass Dangerous for Birds?
Birds use visual cues to orient themselves, and glass can interfere with those cues. A clear panel may be invisible from certain angles, and reflections of trees and shrubs can make the glass look like part of the surrounding landscape. A house with a garden, mature trees, and lots of outdoor views can have several of these factors at once. Collisions with glass are a major threat to birds, both at private homes and other low-rise buildings.
How Does Bird Divert Film Work?
Bird Divert film uses UV-reflecting and UV-absorbing markers to help the birds see the glass as an obstacle. It’s designed to be discreet to people, so homeowners can keep enjoying their views while making the glass more visible to birds. It’s a viable option for existing deck railings and other glass where bird strike is an issue. For those who want to do their bit for the birds without replacing their glass or incurring the cost of enclosing their outdoor areas, it can be a very useful product.
Where Should Bird Divert Film Be Installed?
Bird divert film can be applied to glass deck railings, large windows, sliding glass doors, and other glass surfaces near trees, shrubs, or landscaping that birds may mistake for open flight paths. Depending on the product’s installation requirements, you may need to treat both sides of a glass panel to ensure birds recognize the barrier when approaching from either direction. For the Tiburon home featured in this post, ClimatePro installed Bird Divert film on both sides of 7 glass deck railing panels. The installation maintains the existing wood-and-glass railing design and the open views the homeowner enjoys.
Protect Birds Around Your Bay Area Home
If you’ve got glass deck railings, large windows, or other significant areas of glass, then bird divert film may be worth considering. Glass that is reflective or transparent can present a collision hazard even in a domestic environment, so looking at those glass surfaces and taking appropriate action can go a long way to making your property safer for birds. The best solution depends on the glass in question, the context in which it is situated, and the areas where collisions are most likely to occur. ClimatePro helps Bay Area homeowners assess their glass and identify window film solutions that work for their home and the environment.
Interested in bird divert film for your home? Contact ClimatePro to discuss your project and request a free estimate. You can also get started online here.
