Do Wind Chimes Help Keep Birds Away?

by Derrick | Last Updated: May 14, 2022

Wind chimes are a beautiful addition to any yard, and many people believe that they also have the power to keep birds away.

Do wind chimes really work to keep birds away? Here is some information on what the research says, as well as our own findings from testing wind chimes in our own yard.

Yes, wind chimes do help keep birds away from your house and surrounding yard.

The noise that the wind chimes make scares birds, and after a while, they will usually learn to stay away from your property and go somewhere where they are less disturbed.

You can hang wind chimes anywhere around your property- on the porch, in a tree, or near your garden.

For best results, we recommend hanging at least two or three wind chimes of different sizes and tones. This will create a more complex noise that will be more effective in deterring birds.

For the study we did, we set up four different bird feeders in our yard and hung a wind chime within five feet of each of the three feeders, while not setting up the wind chime near the fourth one.

We monitored the feeders for bird traffic, noting that wind chimes didn’t keep the birds away 100% of the time, but they did cut down on the number of birds that visited the feeders by a significant amount.

The feeder without a wind chime had more birds and many more visits than the other three feeders. The feeders with a wind chime lasted longer without needing to be refilled than the one without before we finally needed to refill them.

So if you’re looking for a way to help reduce the number of birds away from your yard or home, wind chimes may be a great solution for you.

There are several theories as to why birds hate the sound of wind chimes. The constant noise simply annoys them and causes them to not stick around as long.

Another possibility is that the sudden, jarring noise scares birds and makes them think there’s danger lurking nearby.

Whether for defensive or aesthetic reasons, the fact remains that wind chimes are a useful, natural method of keeping pest birds at bay.

Why Their Effectiveness Decreases With Time

Unfortunately, the use of wind chimes will decline in effectiveness over time. Birds, like people, can get accustomed to various stimuli, including certain noise. This is similar to how people that live near an airport can get used to the sound of airplanes flying overhead and no longer find it bothersome. The same goes for birds and wind chimes.

One test we conducted found that after 30 days, there was a significant decrease in the number of birds responding to the presence of a wind chime. This suggests that over time, birds become less afraid of them.

If you have other attractions in your yard such as food, water, or shelter that the birds are interested in, the birds will tend to overcome their aversion to the wind chimes in as little as 10 days.

What Are The Best Wind Chimes To Scare Birds?

1. Large Wind Chimes

If you’re looking to use wind chimes to get rid of birds, you should use large wind chimes. Large wind chimes are more effective to scare away birds due to the louder, more forceful sound they make. The clapper on large wind chimes is also heavier, so it hits the tubes with more force to create a louder noise.

Larger wind chimes, because of the louder noise, tend to have a sound that travels longer distances potentially scaring away more birds in a larger area. If you live in an area with a lot of bird traffic, large wind chimes may be the best option for you.

2. Reflective Chimes

Reflective wind chimes are another good chime to test to see how it may impact keeping birds away. The reflective material on the wind chimes will help to startle birds as they fly by, which can also help to keep them away from your property. You can find reflective chimes made out of different materials, such as metal or glass. If you are looking for a more durable chime, then metal may be the best option for you.

Glass chimes will still provide the same reflective surface, but they may not be as durable and could break more easily. If you are looking for a decorative option, glass chimes come in many different colors and styles to choose from. You can also find chimes that have been painted with reflective paint to provide the same effect to birds.

3. Wood Wind Chimes

Wood wind chimes are probably the least effective type of chime to use if you’re looking to keep birds away. Wood is a softer material, so the sound it produces is not as loud or jarring as other materials.

The clapper on wood wind chimes is also typically lighter, so it doesn’t hit the tubes with as much force, resulting in a softer sound.

I haven’t personally tested wood wind chimes to see if they help to keep birds away, but based on the materials they’re made of, I would expect them to be the least effective type of chime. If you have wood wind chimes around your house, share with us the results you have had.

How To Have The Most Success Using Wind Chimes To Keep Birds Away?

Using wind chimes, as we said earlier, can be a successful bird deterrent but can lose effectiveness over time. To have the most success you should:

1. Use large wind chimes for the loudest noise

2. Use reflective chimes to startle birds

3. Try different types of chimes in different areas to see what works best for you

4. Change the location of your chimes from time to time

Moving the chimes around periodically will help to keep the birds from getting used to the noise and becoming less afraid of it. This will ensure that the chimes are always having an impact on the birds and keeping them away from your property.

5. Keep an eye on your wind chimes and clean them regularly

To have the best chance of long-term success you should combine other methods in addition to wind chimes to ensure that you are having the best chance to keep birds away. Check out our other suggestions below.

Other Suggestions We Have To Keep Birds Away

Ultra Sonic Pest Repellers

Try an ultra sonic pest repeller. These too have the best chance of success when combined with other methods and are perfect for “stacking” with wind chimes. Ultra sonic pest repellers are great because they can target many different types of pests, not just birds.

Bird Netting

Bird netting is often used to keep birds away from crops, but it can also be used around your home to keep birds from getting too close. You can find bird netting at most hardware stores and it is relatively easy to install. We often recommend that homeowners use bird netting to keep birds from building nests under porch roofs or other areas that are common nooks for birds to use.

Bird Spikes

Bird spikes are a physical barrier that you can install on ledges, gutters, or any other area where birds tend to perch. Bird spikes sound harsh but they are actually quite humane. The spikes make it difficult for birds to land and roost in an area. This will cause them to find a new place to perch, away from your home.

You can find bird spikes at most hardware stores or online.

Remove Food Sources

You can remove bird feeders, seed-producing flowers and other items that attract birds. This will make your property less attractive to birds and cause them to find a new place to forage for food.

Conclusion

Do wind chimes work to keep birds away? The answer is yes, but their effectiveness decreases over time. If you’re looking for a natural method to keep pest birds at bay, using wind chimes is a good option. Test out different types of wind chimes to see which one works best for your situation.