Invisible Invention
Ottawa boy's invisible invention warns birds about deadly windows
CBCNews.caEighth 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" lets birds know the window is solid, but is nearly invisible to humans.
Similar flying falcon-shaped decals already exist on the windows of some buildings, but unlike Sobcov's, they are black and can obstruct part of the window.
Sobcov, who studies at the Turnbull School, a private school in Ottawa, said he first fell in love with birds while on a trip with his parents to Costa Rica four years ago. He learned that bird populations were decreasing around the world, and that many scientists were blaming global warming.
3 Comments:
Duhhhhhh...now why didn't I think of that! Joe "still inside the box" C.
CAN YOU TELL ME IF THESE STICKERS ARE ON THE MARKET, AND WHERE I CAN GET SOME?
Joe- As long as you have the good humor to call yourself out, theres hope. LOL
Pelmo- This is a great story, gives me hope, but I don't know where to buy the stickers. I want some, too.
(sorry for the response lagtime, been battling the Blue Meanies in the Pointless Forest.)
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