Kid's invention warns birds about windows

In summary, an eighth grader named Charlie Sobcov has invented painted, plastic decals that can be placed on windows to prevent birds from colliding with them. The decals are made with ultraviolet paint, which is visible to birds but nearly invisible to humans. This idea has been previously implemented by WindowAlert of Oregon since 2003. The journalist mistakenly believed this was a new concept, but still praises Charlie for his innovative thinking.
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OAQfirst
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http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/01/21/ot-090121-bird-decals.html?ref=rss"
Eighth grader Charlie Sobcov wants to stop birds from dying in collisions with windows, but he doesn't want to ruin anybody's view.
For his latest school science fair project he has invented painted, plastic decals that can be placed — discreetly — right in the middle of a window pane.

"This paint is a colour that birds can see but humans can't," he said Wednesday on CBC Radio's All in a Day. "It's like putting a big stop sign in the middle of the window."

The colour is ultraviolet, beyond the range of colours visible to humans. That means the "stop sign" let's birds know the window is solid, but is nearly invisible to humans.
This kid is all win. He's going to make a fortune, and for the best reasons.

Good for you, Charlie!
 
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Does it mean that all birds, regardless of species, see exactly the same range of wavelengths? Somehow I doubt it.

Kudos to the kid for the out of the box thinking, but journalist should be sent back to the High School.
 
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*slaps head*
 
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fish never have any trouble with windows! :biggrin:

dunno about flying-fish, though :rolleyes: …​
 
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tiny-tim said:
WindowAlert of Oregon have been making them since 2003 …

see http://www.windowalert.com :wink:

Haha, technology journal fail.
 
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Nice invention, never heard of it before.
 
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unseen crashes

tiny-tim said:
WindowAlert of Oregon have been making them since 2003 …

And, even before that, didn't Bill Gates make a fortune out of making patches for windows to avoid unseen crashes? :biggrin:
 

1. What is the purpose of the "Kid's invention warns birds about windows"?

The purpose of this invention is to help prevent birds from flying into windows, which can often result in injury or death for the birds.

2. How does the invention work?

The invention uses a combination of lights and sounds to create a warning signal for birds. The lights are placed on the outside of the window and the sounds are emitted from a device inside the house. When a bird approaches the window, the lights and sounds are triggered, alerting the bird to the presence of the window.

3. Is the invention effective?

Preliminary studies have shown that the invention is effective in reducing the number of bird-window collisions. However, more research is needed to fully determine its effectiveness.

4. How was the invention developed?

The invention was developed by a group of young scientists who were concerned about the high number of bird-window collisions in their area. They conducted research on bird behavior and the effects of lights and sounds on bird flight patterns, and used this information to create the invention.

5. Can the invention be used in any type of building?

Currently, the invention is designed for use in residential homes. However, with further development and testing, it could potentially be adapted for use in other types of buildings, such as offices or commercial buildings.

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