Here’s How our Glass Can Save Birds’ Lives




Did you know that up to 1 Billion birds die per year due to window collisions in the United States? This is even more of a concern here in Northern Ohio, as we are par of two major migration flyways. In order to save birds’ lives, Clearview Tinting is working to provide Metroparks, government buildings, wildlife conservatories, and other commercial buildings in Ohio and Michigan with a bird-friendly window film solution.

A map of North America shows the major waterfowl migration pathways, including those that cross over the Toledo, Cleveland, and Ann Arbor areas.
Toledo, Cleveland, and especially Ann Arbor, are part of major bird migration pathways, adding to the potential for bird window strikes that kill up to 1 Billion birds a year across the U.S.

Birds perceive reflections and see through glass, but the glass itself is often invisible to the avian eye. Unable to discern the windows’ presence, birds collide with the glass, leading to fatal consequences. Bird strike window film is a series of evenly placed, repeating patterns, such as lines or dots, that are installed on glass windows and doors, designed to alert birds that it is a solid surface instead of more open sky.

Bird dot window film Bird Rescue

Large decals and images, especially silhouettes, will not work to deter birds from colliding with windows. Dots placed approximately 2 inches apart, are the most common and proven to work design. 

White patterns are recommended for Reflective Glass. Reflective glass creates the illusion of additional sky, trees, etc. that birds think is a continuous open area. Using a high-contrast color like white, will stand out against the greens and browns of natural habitats. 

Black patterns can be used when there is Fly-through Glass. Fly-through glass happens when birds see greenery or sky on the other side of glass, but don’t understand that there is a barrier preventing them from reaching it. Black colored patterns are best for this application, so that it can stand out against the light shades of sky and clouds. 

Bird Dot Window film is a proven, non-obstructive way to make your glass bird-friendly and reduce the amount of bird collisions in your area.

Northwest Ohio is continuing to build awareness about glass collisions in larger cities, and a lot of buildings are even starting to account for the cost of bird strike window film in their budgets, to make their buildings bird-friendly at the time of initial construction.

Glass City Metro park Toledo Ohio Bird dot window film

Clearview Tinting has the resources and experience to create, plot, and cut the panels for bird film dots in-house. Our graphic designer and installers create the bird film in our own print shop, tailored to fit the needs of each specific building or home.

Lights Out! – An Additional Way to Help Save Birds‘ Lives

Turning off non-essential lights during critical migratory periods and during nighttime, drastically reduces the amount of distractions for birds. The lights inside buildings and homes can cause disorientation for birds, causing them to collide more frequently. The Lights Out initiative can also save companies energy and money in the long run. Great for the birds and your budget! 

Each light matters, and your commitment can make all the difference. The peak fall migration window is from September 6 – October 29 in the United States. During this time, you can do your part by turning off these non-essential lights during 11 pm – 6 am:

  • Lobby and atrium lights
  • Interior home lighting (or draw blinds to prevent light escaping)
  • Decorative landscape lighting
  • Turn off lights before leaving the home or office
  • Be sure outside lights are aimed down and well shielded
  • Install motion sensors on outside lights to minimize use

Maumee Bay Lodge Event: The Advantages of Bird Safe Window Film

Bird Strike Film Maumee Bay State Park Toledo Ohio

Join us Thursday, February 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m for a Building Owners and Managers (BOMA) meeting at Maumee Bay Lodge, where special guest Tony Bishop, CEO of Clearview Tinting, will be presenting everything you need to know about using window film to prevent bird strikes.

He’ll discuss what Bird Safe Window Film is, how it works, and how it will help decrease bird collisions and fatalities.

Tony will go over how we installed the bird film at Maumee Bay State Park, and how his team can help other buildings in Ohio and other parts of the Midwest save our feathered friends.

Clearview Tinting: A Local Solution for Bird Strike Window Film

From consultation to installation, Clearview Tinting is the one-stop shop for bird film creation, ensuring these solutions are backed by local knowledge, as opposed to outsourcing the work to a business that may not be familiar with the region. This saves business and homeowners on material costs, lead times, and provides them with the maximum benefits.

We will also take into consideration the aesthetics and the scope of the building or project. We work with customers to determine the right dot patterns (like straight or offset), trellis patterns, or color to compliment their building or home.

Northern Ohio Businesses Already Using Anti Bird Strike Film

So far, Clearview Tinting has installed bird safe window film on many major buildings and Metro Parks in the Toledo, Ohio area, including The Glass City Metro Park, Maumee Bay State Park Lodge, One Government Center, the Glass City Enrichment Center, and Wildwood Metro Park, just to name a few. The below video details how we developed and applied anti strike bird film for Maumee Bay State Park.

Clearview Tinting Can Help You Prevent Bird Strikes on Windows

Start saving birds’ lives today! If you would like to see how we can make your home or building Bird-Friendly, call or request a FREE window film quote! If you have any questions, please contact us by calling (419) 367-6444, emailing us at info@clearviewtinting.com, or tell us about more about your project using this form.

We proudly service Toledo, OH, Cleveland, OH, Ann Arbor, MI, and all of the surrounding areas.