Frequently asked questions - Window stickers
If you want WALL STICKERS click here. These interior stickers are especially designed stick well to many different types of surface and they are printed on 1 side.
I designed the WINDOW STICKERS to prevent birds from flying into the window. To achieve this, the sticker should be placed on the outside. And make sure you follow the instructions.
These are completely new and unique in -dare-I-say- the world! Stick this decal on the outside of the window so it no longer reflects the sky and birds see there’s something there. And they look amazing too!
Every year hundreds of thousands birds fly into windows, often with death as a result. This happens because the reflection of the sky in the window is perceived as the actual sky. These double-sided window stickers lift the reflection so birds see that there’s a window there. BirdLife International recommends that stickers are placed 15 centimeters apart on windows, but we’ve seen good results from wider areas. What the best is for your window may need some testing. The greater the surface area you can cover, the more effective your deterrent will be. Assess the enviroment and think how a bird will fly to know where they should be placed.
How to Apply the Window Stickers
Clean the surface very well so it’s free of grease, dust and dirt. Roughly cut out the sticker. Remove the sticking part around the sticker very carefully with a sharp knife. Some areas might need a little help of the knife to come loose.
Fold over the top half of the back. This ensures you can still move the sticker around and place it on the best spot. Place the top half of the sticker on its place. Use a bank card to push the sticker against the window and work your way down.
So how well do they stick?
The ideal surface is smooth, dry, clean, has no holes and no greasy or dusty top layer. So clean it and dry it well. Make sure that there’s no air underneath the stickers.
Can they be used inside?
They are made for the outside but of course they can be used inside too. This will not block the reflection for the birds! So only do this if you never have birds flying into your windows. If you stick them on the inside it will not work as a warning for birds. It is just as nice for decoration but the birds probably do not see them optimally. It is similar to a car driving by. Sometimes you can see who is behind the wheel, but the reflection of the trees in the windshield often makes it difficult.
Won't the birds think they are real and fight them or eat them?
No, Robins do not recognize it as a living robin. Apparently I am not that good at drawing. We’ve tested this thoroughly. Several robins came by, none of them fight the sticker. Other customers also report that the robins in their garden do not fight the sticker, but also that no more birds fly against the windows!
It is a myth that birds are deterred by pictures or, in the case of butterflies, attracted. Birds do not recognize flat, immobile things as living. Otherwise, fruit growers would only have to hang up pictures of birds of prey to protect their fruit. And every garden decoration in the shape of a bird or butterfly would be attacked. Birds do not see what we see. They are not impressed by the image itself. The sticker purely blocks the reflection of the sky in the window so they see that something is there, and therefore cannot take a flight path. They are very effective!
Can you still wash the windows?
Yes you can. The material is thin and especially designed for the use on windows. It’s been developed by the industry to last and stay beautiful on glass. If you apply them well without bubbles the water will not get underneath it and it will stay in place for a long long time.
You should be a little careful around the little bird’s feet but other than that they’ll behave well in normal use.
HR+ and triple glass
If you only paste a few birds on the window pane it will not affect the properties of the glass. A difference in temperature is the risk with these types of glass. Glass manufacterers often say that you shouldn’t mask off large areas of the window. The heat will then build up and can’t escape which could lead to breakage. With just a few stickers this will not happen and the air will not expand. Ask your supplier to be sure and say that it’s just a few small stickers.
Do they withstand the sun and the cold?
They are made from a material that is used by the sign industry and are guaranteed UV resistant for 3 years. For regular Western European weather they are durable. However we can’t tell how resistant they are to more extreme weather conditions.
If you have more questions; do let us know!
What if there is a bubble underneath my sticker?
Hmm yes this is a dilemma, because of course you can make a small cut in it and then push the air out, but then the sticker is a bit damaged and it might not last as long as if you had left the bubble in.
If water can get behind it, the adhesive strength can be reduced. But then you’ll have to accept the bubble and forget about it.
So if you still want to get the bubbles out (the sticker will still stick well) then I would make a cut with a super sharp knife (careful not to touch the glass). And then very carefully push towards the cut with a credit card or something similar from 2 sides. Do not swipe over it in one go from 1 side. Then you might push the cut open. If you use a needle I think you always push a dent or point into the plastic and then it can no longer be smoothed out. Good luck!
What if it still happens?
Sometimes it takes some figuring out how the birds fly, what they see on their path and where they want to go. The sticker should be placed on the perfect spot. Is there an inconveniently placed feeding spot? What direction are the birds flying from? Sometimes there are more spots as the sun moves across the day. You then need more stickers.
And in very very rare occasions you need to paste a lot of stickers in an area to make sure the route is blocked. In 2 years we’ve only heard this once. Pasting more is the only thing that helps. They need to be blocked. In those cases BirdLife international recommends a space of 10-15cm between each sticker.
Removing and Replacing them
They are designed to stay put for a very long time. The material is extra thin to adhere as smoothly and tightly as possible to the glass, minimizing the chance of water seeping behind the edges when it rains or when you clean the windows.
These properties make it hard to remove and replace the stickers. Stickers that are easy to replace also lose their adhesive strength much faster than our stickers. And we want them to last during touch weather!
If you have to remove the sticker you can do so by peeling it off the glass. You will probably tear the sticker due to it’s thin material and strong adhesive power. If you gently warm it with a hairdryer (not too hot near the glass), it will soften the glue. You might need some sticker remover and a glass scraper to remove any residue.
