We are seeing more and more buildings with large windows, glass facades or spaces full of natural light. Aesthetically it is very attractive, but it has a problem that often goes unnoticed: The birds don't see the glass . They confuse it with the sky or with the reflection of the trees and end up colliding.
This causes thousands—even millions—of bird deaths a year around the world. Fortunately, there are solutions that help avoid this without sacrificing design or complicating your life. One of the most interesting is BirdShades , a film designed to protect birds without noticing that it is there.
It may seem strange, but for a bird a Clean, streak-free glass is invisible . When they see the sky or the trees reflected, they interpret that they can continue flying. The result: Direct Clash .
This happens in all kinds of environments, from private homes to offices or public buildings. And it doesn't just depend on the size of the crystal, but also on the light, the angle, and what is reflected.
BirdShades is a film that is placed on glass and that birds can detect . To the human eye it is practically transparent, but birds see a pattern that tells them that there is something there and change their trajectory.
The key is that it uses a design that reflects ultraviolet (UV) light, something that many birds perceive easily. We, on the other hand, hardly see it. That means the glass still looks the same from inside and outside, but for birds it becomes a clear warning: Not around here .
And the best thing is that does not affect visibility or block light , so it can be used without altering the design of the building.
The Solarcheck Foils They prevent birds from crashing into glass thanks to their circle-shaped stickers. These Dark adhesives They make the windows clearly visible to birds.
To work properly, circular stickers are placed at an approximate distance of between 5 and 10 centimeters from each other . This separation ensures that birds can easily recognize the glass as an obstacle.
Solarcheck It uses a simple design with circular dots that doesn't affect visibility from the inside much. Thus, the building retains its natural appearance while protecting birds.
Nowadays there are many ways to try to prevent birds from crashing into glass: from falcon-shaped vinyls to curtains, meshes or decorations with drawings. But most of these solutions They don't work well if they aren't applied correctly .
Putting only one or two decorative silhouettes doesn't do much good . In order for them to really work, the patterns need to be very close together, which is often the case. Affects the aesthetics of the glass or not viable in certain architectural projects .
On the other hand, the Protective films with visible patterns applied correctly are effective .
Taking care of the environment does not always require major changes. Sometimes, it's enough to make small but thoughtful decisions. BirdShades is a good example: a film that is placed on the glass, which does not alter the design or block the light, but which can prevent many birds from dying each year when they hit the windows.
It is an effective, discreet and easy to apply solution. It doesn't bother, it doesn't break the aesthetics, and yet it has a real positive impact.
At a time when sustainability is increasingly valued in architecture and design, having options like this allows you to find the balance between functionality, respect for the environment and aesthetics .
Why protect biodiversity It is perfectly compatible with maintaining clean, modern and well-designed buildings . You just have to choose well how to do it.
