Kamakaze Chaffinches

[sallybb]

We have a pair of patio doors, with full length glass side panels. which are currently getting covered with poop and bird foot prints.
This all started about three/four weeks ago, when one male Chaffich started deliberately flying at the window, spraying the window with poop , then spreading it with its feet and wing tips, Initially I put this down to the fact he could see his reflection and was attacking a potential rival. However there are now 2 Chaffinches doing this,2nd is a female. Both seem to have their our areas that they attack. They seem to do this throughout all daylight hours and I'm suprised they havent exhausted themselfs in the process. Its a bit like a scene from Alfred Hitchcocks 'the birds'. We regularily have birds fly into the glass, but accidently. This is purely deliberate. Keep cleaning windows, perhaps I shouldn't, then eventually there will enough spread poop ,to stop a reflection. Can anyone explain this behaviour. In the 15 years I've lived here , I have never come across it before, although a few years ago a male pheasant used to swear at his reflection during mating season, every time he walked pass. But this only lasted about 3 days.

[follyfancier]

they can see their reflection in the glass and are trying to get rid of what they think are rival birds

[sallybb]

Well their not very bright then, they been trying for several weeks with no success. Do you think this might be Chaffinch thing. Certainly persitant little devils.

[wildwood]

Chaffinches (amongst other birds) are well known for fighting their reflection in car mirrors. There is no reflective glass/mirror in nature so you can not blame the poor things for doing what they do instinctively. This is the pairing/breeding time so it is more prevalent this time of the year.

What about some very light net curtains? It will be enough to stop them and will still give you a good view.

[sallybb]

im still laughing a the suggestion of net curtains, I've given up cleaning the glass and if you could see it you would understand why Im still laughing.

Have decided to move the bird feeding station further away, see if that has an impact. Have always had plenty of Chaffinches without this problem before. I think Mr chaffinch has been giving mrs chaffinch lessons.

[DTCwordfan]

sally - its the windex you use Media URL: http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoaftvzZ.html
Description:

[DTCwordfan]

try it on this......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqKS-hkhhh4

[sallybb]

Thats brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it

[midagetrolop]

I had forgotten until I read yours but I had the same trouble with a chaffinch last year, just one, it used to peck at the window and fly at it leaving bird poo all over and on the window ledges outside. I used to shut the lounge curtains and it would go round to the window at the end of the hall, so I shut those curtain and it went to the one at the top of the stairs - it was most odd - then it just went away. It made a right mess of the windows though - it went on for about 2 weeks. hope you get rid of it!!

[sallybb]

hope they both go away soon. you would think they would need to save their energy for other things!!!!! They both look fat and healthy, which is a suprise, considering.
The strange thing is that they seem to have their alloted areas which they attack. Gosh the complexity of a birds brain!!!!