They are actually fighting their own reflection.
Every year, the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Association receives reports in early spring about birds that attack their own reflection in the windows of buildings or in the rearview mirrors of cars for days at a time. The problem that appears as the breeding season approaches is easy to deal with.
As a result of the continuous attacks on windows and mirrors, the birds can be weakened and injured, and their continuous knocking and excrement pollution can be very disturbing.
The explanation for the seemingly strange behavior, that with the beginning of the birds' breeding season, their territorial fear behavior intensifies, and the "mirror-image-polluting" effect of the civilized environment is not understandable for them.
Since there is no stable and clear mirror image similar to artificial reflective surfaces in nature, the animals did not have the opportunity to adapt and prepare for this flood of stimuli on an evolutionary level.
The "opponent" reflected in the calm water surface can be defeated, as the image disappears completely with the ripples and does not return until the water smooths out again.
The problem is that the manic fight of the males, who become more aggressive during the breeding season, with their own reflection takes place in completely unnatural conditions, so the bird is able to fight to the point of exhaustion. Meanwhile, he does not feed properly, he cannot protect his territory from real rivals, and he may even neglect helping to feed the chicks.
Moreover, broken glass as a result of an attack by a "fellow" reflected in the window can cause physical injury to the bird.
The prevention and treatment of this phenomenon is simple: covering the reflective surfaces, folding in the exterior rear-view mirrors, reducing the reflection with curtains, but it is also possible to put out a "scare string" that scares away the birds. A mosquito net placed on the window can also be of great help, but many other practices found on the MME website can also be used to protect our windows and birds.
Cover image: Bárázdabillegető
Source: MME/Zoltán Orbán
