UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Birds are hurling themselves against windows, hammering on drainpipes and pecking on glass. But don't let it get to you -- it won't last much longer, says a wildlife biologist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"At the beginning of the breeding season, birds are establishing territories," says Margaret Brittingham, associate professor of wildlife resources. "They're singing, displaying and telling all of the other males of their species to keep out."

When a bird sees his reflection in a window, he thinks it's an intruder, she says. So he 'displays' to try to get the intruder to leave. "Of course the 'intruder' displays back, and the bird gets madder and madder until he starts pecking on the glass."

To some people, this behavior can be quite annoying, she says. "One caller had a robin at her work window, pecking nonstop and hurling itself against the glass. Another caller had a mockingbird on her car, pecking like crazy at the side window.

"The best bet is to wait it out," she says. "Once the birds breed, the male hormones will drop and they'll become less aggressive.

"You can always try putting a large rearview mirror in your yard -- like the kind from a truck," she adds. "You may be able to draw the bird's attention to the new intruder."

Another complaint Brittingham hears this time of year concerns woodpeckers. "Woodpeckers drum to set up territories and attract mates, and one of the most resonant items to drum on is a drainpipe or rain gutter," she says. "At 5 a.m., it really can drive people crazy."

To scare them off, Brittingham suggests hanging streamers or Scare-Eye balloons. "Scare-Eye balloons have giant eyes on them," she says. "You can buy them at garden supply centers. They only work for short periods of time, but that's all you'll need."

In April and May, people also are concerned about birds flying into windows. "Migrants moving through the area are unfamiliar with local buildings," Brittingham says. "They may not see a window and fly right into it. Some of the worst structures are commercial buildings with black glass that reflects the trees or sky, or tall corridors of glass you can see through."

One way to discourage birds from flying into windows is to make or purchase (from a garden supply store or nature center) the silhouette of a hawk that can be taped on the glass, Brittingham says. "Other birds will tend to avoid flying near the window when they see the hawk."

But raptor stickers don't prevent birds from pecking. If your bird problem is severe, Brittingham suggests placing a fine net over windows. "You can use the kind made for fruit growers to keep birds off of the fruit," she says. "The birds bounce right off of it and you can still see through it."

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Margaret Brittingham at 814-863-8442.

Contacts: Kim Dionis KDionis@psu.edu 814-863-2703 814-865-1068 fax