Zen Wind Curtains are a series of strings fastened to the outside of windows to keep birds from hitting the windows. The name comes from Acopian BirdSavers. They sell custom made curtains, but also have suggestions on how to make your own.
We made Wind Curtains for all our windows a few years ago, and they have greatly reduced bird strikes. Birds still hit once in a while, but not often, and never hard enough to hurt them.
This is what ours look like – from the inside.
And the outside
This is how we made them.
Materials:
Drywall corner bead – enough length to be able to go along the top and bottom of each window. Be sure to buy the kind that’s made of plastic, not the parchment-like material.
Paracord – we bought a giant roll and had enough for the project with plenty left over
Outdoor Velcro – be sure to use the ‘Outdoor’ kind – it stays up in all weather
To make the Wind Curtains:
1 – Cut the corner bead to the right length for each window. It should be as long as the width of the glass. We used one piece along the top, and one at the bottom of each window, but if you prefer, you can just use the one on the top.
2 – There are already holes in the corner bead, but they’re not large enough to thread the paracord through. Mark the holes you want to use for the paracord. They should be not more than 4 inches apart, and start not more than 4 inches from the edge of the window. Then drill them out so they’re large enough for the paracord.
3 – Cut a piece of paracord for each hole that’s several feet longer than the window is tall. You need extra length for the knots at the top and bottom and for shrinkage – the cord will shrink a lot in the first few months. The ends of the paracord need to be singed with a flame to keep them from raveling.
4 – Make a knot in one end of each cord, and thread the cords through the holes.
5 – Now you’re ready to attach the corner bead to the windows. Make matching pairs of velcro strips – as many as you need to fasten the corner bead securely. Remove the backing on one side of the velcro pairs and stick them onto the corner bead. Then remove the backing on the other side of the velcro pairs, and stick the strip of corner bead onto the window. This photo shows how the velcro holds up the corner bead.
The corner bead is now fastened to the window, with the paracord hanging down through the holes, held by knots at the top of each cord.
6 – We tried leaving the bottom of the cords loose, but we didn’t like it. The cords blew in the wind, making noise and getting tangled. So eventually we made matching strips of corner bead with matching holes, and stuck them on the bottom of the windows. We pulled the cords through the the holes and knotted them at the bottom. Be sure, when you tie the cords at the bottom, that you leave plenty of room for the cords to shrink. They shrink a lot. And don’t tighten the lower knots – you may need to undo them to make adjustments. The cords still move in the wind, but not as much, and they’re much quieter.