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The glass walls that line motorways in Poland have black decals stuck on them that look like the outlines of birds of prey. Supposedly, birds can’t tell the dec
by Mediterraneo10 7y ago
The glass walls that line motorways in Poland have black decals stuck on them that look like the outlines of birds of prey. Supposedly, birds can’t tell the decal from the shadow of an actual threatening species that they would prefer to avoid, and so they don’t fly anywhere near the walls.
- catalogia 7y ago> "glass walls that line motorways" I've never heard of this, why is it done? For aesthetic reasons? It seems like it would be marginally less practical than solid barriers which would block out headlights at night.
- Mediterraneo10 7y agoThese barriers are put up for sound-proofing reasons. Mostly the barriers are opaque, but one often encounters the glass ones at the points along these routes when they run through towns. Here, the glass barriers provide soundproofing without blocking one’s view of the surrounding cityscape.
- hanniabu 7y agosound-reducing reasons* Sorry for the nitpick, but I live near a highway with one of these barriers and it's in no way sound-proofing.
- tempestn 7y agoWere you able to experience it without the barrier?
- hanniabu 7y agoNo, but with it I can still hear the highway. I'm sure it's certainly not as bad as it is without it, and I'm thankful it's there, but it's still audible. It sounds like it's maybe 2 or 3 blocks away vs right in your back yard.
- bonoboTP 7y agoTo block noise, without blocking light. See for example [0] (in Budapest, Hungary), where the house would not get much light during the day with a solid barrier and it's also kinda depressing to stare at a wall immediately in front of your window (even a busy road is a better view). (Note also the bird stickers.) [0] http://iho.hu/img/kozut/111004_kaotikuskoki/zajfal.jpg http://iho.hu/img/kozut/111004_kaotikuskoki/zajfal.jpg
- smcl 7y agoThey have them all over the place her in Czech Republic - bus stations, train stations, university buildings, anywhere with large glass panels or windows exposed to the outside world. I never noticed much of a bird-window-suicide problem back in the UK even though we had a big glass conservatory at my house
- SideburnsOfDoom 7y ago> I never noticed much of a bird-window-suicide problem back in the UK even though we had a big glass conservatory at my house Particular lighting conditions make the glass act like a partial mirror, giving the impression of open space. It's more common in strong sunlight, which is why it's rare in the UK
- cjensen 7y agoTall glass buildings have a unique bird-window-suicide problem in that birds often migrate at moderate altitudes at night.
- jayess 7y agoI just took a week-long road trip across Poland and noticed these. Thanks for the explanation!