Do you have one of those large windows that birds often confuse for open air and inadvertently fly right into? I don't now, but I used to. And I know that loud thwump that occurs when a bird makes full-speed contact with a pane of glass is sickening. Even more so for the bird, of course. After hearing that sound a few times and witnessing the aftermath, I did the only thing I knew to do -- I put a large decal on the window so the birds would know that it was indeed a solid surface. That big sticker in the middle of my picture window was kind of ugly, but it worked. But now, thanks to a young inventor, there may soon be a more attractive way to steer birds away from your windows.

Charlie Sobcov is an eight grade student in Ottowa who fell in love with birds while visiting Costa Rica four years ago. Knowing that millions of birds die every year from crashing into windows, he decided to do something about it. As part of a school science fair project, he researched bird vision and discovered that they can see colors in the ultraviolet range that human eyes cannot. Armed with that knowledge, he came up with a window decal that contains fluorescent ultraviolet paint. It works just like the sticker I put on my window, except birds can see it while humans cannot.

Charlie didn't invent the fluorescent ultraviolet paint, but his idea of putting it in window decals was a stroke of genius. He's already had success with the decals on his own windows and is currently advertising for volunteers to test them on theirs. Once he finishes the trials, he hopes to market his invention. And I'll bet he wins a prize at the science fair as well.