I use decals and a string of feathers I got from a bird online store (can't remember it now of course) after finding a Hermit Thrush dead outside our windows, and learning that almost a billion birds die every year from window collisions. American Bird Conservatncy sells tape that is supposed to work really well. They say that there should be something every so many inches because if a bird thinks there's a barrier, they will try to go to the next spot (explains how they can fly through a forest so well). You can also use tempura paint if you feel artsy. They have other ways to prevent them them from colliding into your windows. Hope your Chickadee recovers. Here is a link that might be useful: ABC Bird Tape

Lisa's information is correct about the bird in a bag. A shoebox with air holes also works. The key is to place it in a protected spot where a cat or dog can't get the bird while it is recovering.Make sure it is released as soon as it is well, so it doesn't hurt itself trying to escape. What you can do for the bird strikes is buy or make a couple of hawk silhouettes to place on your windows. We have many large windows on two sides of our living room and we were having many goldfinches strike the windows until we found out about the predator bird silhouettes years ago. Stores that carry bird feed will often carry them, or you can cut your own from black construction paper. The shape is that of a diving predator bird. Unfortunately, this also keeps the birds form coming as close to your house as well, but well worth it in my opinion to save their lives. We haven't had any bird strikes since we put up a couple of silhouettes on the side the birds were hitting, and we had been hearing the 'thump' and finding about two dead birds a week before that. In our case, this also helps with keeping the birds away form our two pet dogs, as the windows where the silhouettes were placed also are on the side of the house where we have a dog run, so the silhouettes are also serving to keep the birds out of our canines reach as well. Best of luck with it. Jean

It might be possible to formulate some kind of list of "local" species that habitually (?) perch on vertical surfaces, i.e.: martins, swifts and so on. The list might be able to be used to narrow down the types, sizes, and names of possible subjects.

marcolo: Thanks for posting the pic of the vintage sink and the sink in casey's kitchen. Those are creative solutions, but we don't want to block our windows in the kitchen. In the butler's pantry, we are running the countertop across the window, but anticipate we'll replace those windows down the road as a part of a larger deck renovation. We have gotten estimates for the work to be done on our renovation. We have just decided not to move any walls or doors for fear there are hidden surprises that will blow our budget. No one can tell us what's behind any of our walls, despite their best estimates, and with a limited budget and many years of home improvement projects ahead of us, we are deciding not to go down that path. We know we may be sacrificing the most efficient layout with our decisions and constraints, but we're okay with that. lavender_lass: We have decided to go with a range and separate wall oven instead of the rangetop and DO, but thanks for the revised layout. It would still work with a range and we actually looked at that. We think, though, we'd prefer to have the uninterrupted countertop right of the stove and deal with the hike to the fridge. I'm a recipe cook so I get out everything out I need and only make limited trips back to the fridge. We'd love to expose the brick underneath the plaster, but we need to slide the fridge over towards the MR door to alleviate the pinch point with the sink wall. So unfortunately the fridge won't be centered on the bumpout. Any suggestions on how we could still make that wall a focal point? never_ending: We are going with Mouser Custom Cabinetry, the Sonoma door style, beaded inset, painted in creamy white (haven't picked out exact color yet). onedogedie: The PO were kind enough to leave an extra roll of that wallpaper for us. We've offered it to several friends as a vintage Christmas gift. No takers yet. I appreciate everyone's thoughts on the layout so far.