Ottawa boy's invisible invention warns birds about deadly windows

[n2doc]

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 | 5:24 PM ET Comments58Recommend217
CBC News

Eighth grader Charlie Sobcov wants to stop birds from dying in collisions with windows, but he doesn't want to ruin anybody's view.

For his latest school science fair project he has invented painted, plastic decals that can be placed — discreetly — right in the middle of a window pane.

"This paint is a colour that birds can see but humans can't," he said Wednesday on CBC Radio's All in a Day. "It's like putting a big stop sign in the middle of the window."

The colour is ultraviolet, beyond the range of colours visible to humans. That means the "stop sign" lets birds know the window is solid, but is nearly invisible to humans.

Similar flying falcon-shaped decals already exist on the windows of some buildings, but unlike Sobcov's, they are black and can obstruct part of the window.

Sobcov, who studies at the Turnbull School, a private school in Ottawa, said he first fell in love with birds while on a trip with his parents to Costa Rica four years ago. He learned that bird populations were decreasing around the world, and that many scientists were blaming global warming.

He later read that about 500 million birds a year in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada were dying as a result of crashing into windows. Many deadly bird collision are with the windows of skyscrapers along their migratory paths.

Sobcov resolved to help save the lives of some of those birds.

more:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/01/21/ot-090121-bird-decals.html

[sandnsea]

1. Best story of the day

I saw this earlier and meant to find a better article to post. I think it is fantastic that a kid figured this out.

[Ken Burch]

2. This is great. I wonder if this idea would work with windmill farms?

If so, that would remove the only environmental objection to their increased use.

[AllyCat]

14. Oh, that would be great!

[applejuice]

29. Maybe they could use paint in that ultraviolet color he used

so that the windmills would be super visible to the birds?

[Realityhack]

42. unlikely. As far as I know...

The issue with windmills isn't the birds being unable to see the blades, but rather not being used to things moving that fast/in that way in nature. Similar to animals that run out in front of a car even though they can see the car.

[xchrom]

3. recommend

:applause:

[rrneck]

4. The kid's already

smarter than I am. But who's he gonna brag to about that? :)

[lostnotforgotten]

5. Passion, Youthful Energy, Creativity - Works Every Time

eom

[emilyg]

6. Smart boy. Happy birds. K/R

[surrealAmerican]

7. Nice idea.

[Canuckistanian]

8. Fantastic idea

I didn't know birds could see into the UV range.

I'd definitely buy some for our windows. We're always hearing the smack of birds against the glass.

Especially the hummingbirds, who seem to get very excited during territorial fights.

[quakerboy]

9. Hmm

Good idea.

Maybe he can take it a step further. Instead of decals, why not mix some of the compound into glass as its made, making the whole window visible to the birdies

[InvisibleTouch]

10. Excellent!

I've got visible decals on my windows for that very reason, and I like them as part of my decor - but these ultraviolet versions are great for people who don't want visible shapes on their windows. Anything that encourages people to use it is great. Good for this kid!

[johan helge]

11. Impressive! (nt)

[Pooka Fey]

12. Nice. K&R

[kenfrequed]

13. Brilliant

An excellent solution.

[Kajsa]

15. This is fantastic!

Kudos to this talented, compassionate
young man.

:yourock: :applause:

[bertman]

16. Cool invention. Wonder if he can make one for a jet engine?

[Angleae]

41. Jet engines aren'e exactly transparent.

They even have their own form of visual warning. In the center of the inlet, on the cone covering the gearbox, is a spiral pattern that, when spinning, is supposed to scare birds.

[democrank]

17. What a bright kid.

Bravo!

[Blue State Bandit]

18. Future D.o.Int. Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service!

Outstanding!

[mt13]

19. what a great kid!

i would use these on my windows, especially the french doors to my patio. having a bird feeder in the back of the house, every now and then, a bird crashes into those doors. luckily, albeit sadly, i have only had 1 casualty.

[BrklynLiberal]

20. Ihave the translucent bird decals on my windows...but this is great if someone does not want to see

the decal from the inside..

[jhrobbins]

28. This kids parents/lawyers need to go for the big bucks for this kid

and approach green window making organizations and have them on the windows before they go out the factory door.

[OnyxCollie]

30. Quick, before some bastard rips him off. nt

[Kindigger]

21. Next up

an invention to keep deer from jumping through patio door windows.

[racaulk]

22. That story absolutely warms my heart.

What a fantastic kid!!!

K&R

[Locrian]

23. cool. cool kid etc. but not new

http://windowalert.com/

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/windowalert_2038_22868358

[RobertSeattle]

24. I've had something like this for a couple of years

Can't recall where I bought them. My house has killed several birds too...

[PatrynXX]

25. Had to deal with a waxwing last year

Two of them. They seem to love eating berries then they get drunk and bang into the window. 2 were stunned and one of those was hurt. We left him overnight, but eventually took him somewhere to get healed. Always hear birds banging into the windows somewhere. Heck our windows are dirty and still bang.

[RedCloud]

26. And a child shall lead us

What's next?

[Plucketeer]

27. What a marvel!

We feed LOTS of wild birds and have always enjoyed our big windows thru which to watch them. But there's lots of bird collisions as a result. I'd be first in line to buy some of these!!!

[grannie4peace]

31. man! that is too cool!!!!

[OneBlueSky]

32. hey hey hey . . . three cheers for Charlie! . . . way to go, kid!!! . . . n/t

.

[earthlite]

33. Not to take away credit from the kid's idea but....

There is already a well known product like this on the market. It works very well.
http://windowalert.com/

[glinda]

34. THAT IS NOT NEW. We have some that we bought two years ago.

And he did not invent them.

[Catchawave]

36. You're right, but his heart is in the right place.....

http://www.fatfinch.com/pages/mfg01.html

Unfortunately, he may not become a millionaire :(

[glinda]

40. He can get sued.

[AtheistCrusader]

44. It certainly won't help his case if he uses the exact same wording as the product's description..

"This paint is a colour that birds can see but humans can't," he said Wednesday on CBC Radio's All in a Day. "It's like putting a big stop sign in the middle of the window."

WindowAlert product:

"The decal contains a component which brilliantly reflects ultraviolet sunlight. This ultraviolet light is invisible to humans, but glows like a stoplight for birds."

[AtheistCrusader]

37. Whoops.

redacted, replied to the wrong message.

New message:

You have a product from two years ago that is mostly invisible to the human eye, but warns birds?

(Sorry for the edit, I accidentally replied to the wrong message)

[RobertSeattle]

38. I've owned several of the devices at http://windowalert.com/

for 2 years or so.

[glinda]

39. Yes. Window Alert. That is what we have also. Works great.

[Realityhack]

43. Good point but...

he could have invented the same thing. Not new but he could still have come up with the idea. Who knows.

Bit of an overblown story though.

[proud patriot]

35. awesome

:)