Raccoon Update XX I - All are welcome in the Critter Cafe

Message boards : Cafe SETI : Raccoon Update XX I - All are welcome in the Critter Cafe
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

Previous · 1 . . . 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 . . . 63 · Next

AuthorMessage
Scarecrow

Send message
Joined: 15 Jul 00
Posts: 4520
Credit: 486,601
RAC: 0
United States
Message 1651094 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 18:03:01 UTC
Last modified: 9 Mar 2015, 18:05:04 UTC

The airlines avoid bird strikes this way....



Years ago my mother had problems with birds, mostly finches and sparrows, colliding with a large picture window. The time came when she had to replace windows in the house. The replacement picture window had wooden inserts on the inside that gave the appearance of several small panes rather than a single large one. After that change she never had any more avian mishaps.
ID: 1651094 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill Walker
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Sep 99
Posts: 3868
Credit: 2,697,267
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 1651096 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 18:20:27 UTC - in response to Message 1651074.  

There are numerous theories on why birds fly into glass. Not the least of which happens in the spring when they see their rival (reflection) in the glass and attack it.


We get gold finches attacking their reflections in car mirrors and windows every spring here, fighting till the drop of exhaustion sometimes. But I've never seen one ram the window fast enough to do damage to themsleves. Instead they flare as they approach the glass, hover next to it, and strike out with their feet and beak.

ID: 1651096 · Report as offensive
anniet
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 2 Feb 14
Posts: 7105
Credit: 1,577,368
RAC: 75
Zambia
Message 1651097 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 18:21:08 UTC
Last modified: 9 Mar 2015, 18:24:42 UTC

Our house in Zambia overhung a valley and had floor to ceiling glass the full width of almost every room. I was very young at the time but the bird strikes and their consequences were absolutely awful to see :((( They did stop but I can't remember what my mum did. Trouble is, she may not either - but it's sufficiently long ago that she might. I will ask her, but anything that breaks up the appearance of an "open space" or reduces reflectivity will help. As a child I was a regular walker-into plate-glass walls and doors - usually the cleaner the glass and the sunnier the day the more flattened my face became. Although - having said that - sunglasses didn't help me much and tended to snap in the middle and then dangle uselessly from each ear.

Good luck!

@elephant story - awwwwwwwwwwwwwww :)
ID: 1651097 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1651105 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 18:41:28 UTC - in response to Message 1651101.  

Sounds a lovely house :-))


Those construction workers must've done a great Job!
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1651105 · Report as offensive
anniet
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 2 Feb 14
Posts: 7105
Credit: 1,577,368
RAC: 75
Zambia
Message 1651114 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 18:58:15 UTC - in response to Message 1651105.  

Sounds a lovely house :-))


Those construction workers must've done a great Job!


Built on an ancient burial site before Zambia gained independence :( Highly disrespectful to the local people. Was a huge property - and is now Kitwe international airport - so I suppose they got over it.
ID: 1651114 · Report as offensive
Profile Angela Special Project $75 donor
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 16 Oct 07
Posts: 13130
Credit: 39,854,104
RAC: 31
United States
Message 1651115 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 18:59:43 UTC

I was thinking. If you don't wash the windows so often maybe the birds will see them.

The last bird strike happened with a very dirty window. I had Eric clean the windows so the decals would stick properly.

It was a male goldfinch smack that prompted my purchase of the decals. I don't know if he was defending his territory or if he just got confused by the reflection off the glass.

Thanks for all the responses!
ID: 1651115 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1651119 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 19:27:32 UTC

As Wingdi so eloquently states Jep hi hi.
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1651119 · Report as offensive
Profile janneseti
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 14 Oct 09
Posts: 14106
Credit: 655,366
RAC: 0
Sweden
Message 1651125 - Posted: 9 Mar 2015, 19:40:27 UTC - in response to Message 1651115.  
Last modified: 9 Mar 2015, 19:44:16 UTC

I was thinking. If you don't wash the windows so often maybe the birds will see them.

The last bird strike happened with a very dirty window. I had Eric clean the windows so the decals would stick properly.
It was a male goldfinch smack that prompted my purchase of the decals. I don't know if he was defending his territory or if he just got confused by the reflection off the glass.
Thanks for all the responses!

Trichomonas is a parasite that affects many birds.
One symptom is disoriention and a bird who hits a window are often having this parasite.
Most common infected bird is pigeons and doves. Other birds such as domestic and wild turkeys, chickens, finches, raptors (hawks, golden eagle, etc.) may also become infected. The disease in pigeons is commonly called "canker".

So trying to do something with your windows seems meaningless.
Search Engines are my friend:)
ID: 1651125 · Report as offensive
Profile Angela Special Project $75 donor
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 16 Oct 07
Posts: 13130
Credit: 39,854,104
RAC: 31
United States
Message 1651277 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 5:28:02 UTC - in response to Message 1651125.  

I was thinking. If you don't wash the windows so often maybe the birds will see them.

The last bird strike happened with a very dirty window. I had Eric clean the windows so the decals would stick properly.
It was a male goldfinch smack that prompted my purchase of the decals. I don't know if he was defending his territory or if he just got confused by the reflection off the glass.
Thanks for all the responses!

Trichomonas is a parasite that affects many birds.
One symptom is disoriention and a bird who hits a window are often having this parasite.
Most common infected bird is pigeons and doves. Other birds such as domestic and wild turkeys, chickens, finches, raptors (hawks, golden eagle, etc.) may also become infected. The disease in pigeons is commonly called "canker".

So trying to do something with your windows seems meaningless.
Search Engines are my friend:)



When birds strike windows, sadly, they leave a very recognizable round-ish smudge. Our baseline on the kitchen window is a couple of strikes a year. If I still get a couple of strikes this year, despite the window decals, I will take the silly things down.
ID: 1651277 · Report as offensive
Admiral Gloval
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 31 Mar 13
Posts: 20157
Credit: 5,308,449
RAC: 0
United States
Message 1651283 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 5:53:19 UTC

Do you have window screens to keep the bugs out? If you do. Try a dark color screen material. Possibly with a mat finish.

ID: 1651283 · Report as offensive
Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 25 Dec 00
Posts: 30608
Credit: 53,134,872
RAC: 32
United States
Message 1651301 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 6:53:07 UTC

Well, I do remember one bird that liked to attack its reflection. Mostly it would land on the sill and peck its refection. Chased it away a couple times, but it came back and started again. Only stopped when the sun moved enough that the reflection changed.

As to hard strikes, I've seen several where you can trace the outlines of the feathers, and beak. Most of the time, when I've seen them the bird is back on wing in a minute or so. Only once has one perished that I'm aware of, not counting moving car windows.
ID: 1651301 · Report as offensive
Profile Angela Special Project $75 donor
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 16 Oct 07
Posts: 13130
Credit: 39,854,104
RAC: 31
United States
Message 1651433 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 21:18:14 UTC

When a bird is stunned, I think our outside cat Spawnie thinks that he has caught something.

Once, a few years ago, we came home to a pile of feathers next to our kitchen window. I think a bird smacked itself out cold on the window and Spawnie finished the poor thing off before the bird could fly away.

Spawnie is not a hunter, but he is an opportunist.
ID: 1651433 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1651452 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 21:56:09 UTC - in response to Message 1651433.  

When a bird is stunned, I think our outside cat Spawnie thinks that he has caught something.

Once, a few years ago, we came home to a pile of feathers next to our kitchen window. I think a bird smacked itself out cold on the window and Spawnie finished the poor thing off before the bird could fly away.

Spawnie is not a hunter, but he is an opportunist.


Good on him:)) Siyah's also like that..
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1651452 · Report as offensive
Admiral Gloval
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 31 Mar 13
Posts: 20157
Credit: 5,308,449
RAC: 0
United States
Message 1651468 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 22:56:51 UTC

Had a cat years back. There was a squirel that was teasing it. It would wait and run between two trees about 75 feet apart. It drove that cat bonkers. This went on for about a week. Then my cat changed tactics. She recruited one of her daughters to help in the hunt. The squirel did not see it coming that last day.

ID: 1651468 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1651476 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 23:13:14 UTC

I just Love black animals, don't ask me why...
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1651476 · Report as offensive
Profile janneseti
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 14 Oct 09
Posts: 14106
Credit: 655,366
RAC: 0
Sweden
Message 1651481 - Posted: 10 Mar 2015, 23:20:31 UTC - in response to Message 1651476.  

I just Love black animals, don't ask me why...

Me too:)
ID: 1651481 · Report as offensive
Profile zoom3+1=4
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 30 Nov 03
Posts: 65709
Credit: 55,293,173
RAC: 49
United States
Message 1651534 - Posted: 11 Mar 2015, 4:10:11 UTC - in response to Message 1651468.  

Had a cat years back. There was a squirel that was teasing it. It would wait and run between two trees about 75 feet apart. It drove that cat bonkers. This went on for about a week. Then my cat changed tactics. She recruited one of her daughters to help in the hunt. The squirel did not see it coming that last day.

The squirrel got double teamed, one was a decoy, the other was the pissed off cat.
The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's
ID: 1651534 · Report as offensive
Admiral Gloval
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 31 Mar 13
Posts: 20157
Credit: 5,308,449
RAC: 0
United States
Message 1651567 - Posted: 11 Mar 2015, 7:28:32 UTC

That moma cat was a smart cat. She was a rescue sort of. She was pregnant and went people shopping. We did not select her. She selected us. How that works. I do not know. We had no say in her decision making. Even the dog had to move on over. She just came over and moved in and stayed.
Has anyone have that happen?

ID: 1651567 · Report as offensive
Profile Suzie-Q Project Donor
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Mar 07
Posts: 3324
Credit: 4,746,812
RAC: 1
United States
Message 1651660 - Posted: 11 Mar 2015, 13:50:25 UTC

ID: 1651660 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill Walker
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Sep 99
Posts: 3868
Credit: 2,697,267
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 1651682 - Posted: 11 Mar 2015, 15:31:39 UTC - in response to Message 1651567.  

That moma cat was a smart cat. She was a rescue sort of. She was pregnant and went people shopping. We did not select her. She selected us. How that works. I do not know. We had no say in her decision making. Even the dog had to move on over. She just came over and moved in and stayed.
Has anyone have that happen?


Many years ago a co-worker purchased a rural house, complete with shed and shed cat. She had two house cats of her own at the time, and only ever saw glimpses of the shed cat. When she had been there about a year the shed cat came in to the house for the first time, and gave birth to a litter. After a few weeks she moved back to the shed, minus the kittens.

As an aside, this created a lively discussion in the office as to exactly how many cats you had to own before you officially became a Crazy Cat Lady.

ID: 1651682 · Report as offensive
Previous · 1 . . . 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 . . . 63 · Next

Message boards : Cafe SETI : Raccoon Update XX I - All are welcome in the Critter Cafe


 
©2024 University of California
 
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.