What do I do?

It happens in seconds. One moment a bird is flying confidently through your garden, the next it has collided with a window and is lying stunned on the ground.

This is incredibly common. Birds cannot see glass. They often mistake reflections of sky, trees, or open space as somewhere safe to fly.

Even if a bird flies away after a window strike, it may still have serious injuries. Concussion, internal bleeding, and swelling of the brain are all common. Sadly, many birds that “fly off” later die quietly nearby.

What to do

• Carefully pick the bird up using a towel or gloves
• Place it in a small ventilated box
• Keep somewhere warm, dark and quiet
• Leave undisturbed for at least one hour

Darkness and quiet help reduce stress and allow the bird time to recover from shock.

Do not

• Do not offer food or water
• Do not handle repeatedly
• Do not release immediately

Offering food or water to a stunned bird can cause choking or drowning. Handling repeatedly increases stress and can worsen injuries.

After an hour, quietly check the bird. If it is alert, standing, and active, take the box outside and gently open it. Step back and allow the bird to leave in its own time.

If the bird is still fluffed up, weak, unable to stand, or breathing heavily, it needs help from a wildlife rescue.

Preventing window strikes

There are simple ways to reduce window collisions

• Apply window stickers or decals
• Hang feeders either very close to windows or further away
• Use external netting or blinds
• Break up reflections on large glass panels

Small changes can make a huge difference.

Thank you for caring enough to help 🤍🐦