Expert: Julia Booth - 3/3/2008

Question
Tomball, Texas
For the past several years I have had a male cardinal pecking at my windows all day long. I do have reflective windows so I can see him, but he can't see me. He sits on my shrubs and sort of just lunges at the window. I have looked at his beak and there seems to be no harm. I know they are territorial and he is seeing his reflection in my window. I don't know if he has a mate, but I do see females around. I have tried the decals on the window used so birds won't fly into the window, but to no avail. He just pecked around them. I've hung beads and string -and didn't work either. One time I even tried newspaper on the window. He would just find a tiny uncovered spot and even moved to my back window which is not reflective. Stubborn little guy. I took it down because then I could not see out the windows. I do have bird feeders and they are in the backyard while these are in my front yard. Short of replacing my windows which would be very costly, would you have any suggestions. My inside cats totally ignore him now, but it drives my guests crazy.
Any new ideas would be great

Answer
That's bizzare. Usually the decals and other deterrents are successful. I had a raven that used to peck at the reflective windows on our house from time to time. Never understood what his deal was.

It's not unusual for him to be pecking the window, it's just the fervency with which he's doing it that's weird.

Have you thought about getting some cheap mirrors and putting them in the garden? Maybe he'll peck those instead. It sounds like it's the reflective surface that attracting him.