If you go to a specialty bird store you can by UV decals that stick to the outside of your windows. I have birds hitting my windows quite alot and since I've gotten these decals it isn't happening.
we have the decals and almost never get birds flying into the window anymore so this was quite a shock!! Had to bring him in though so the resident ferals didn't get him!! after about 10 minutes he was over being stunned and flew away!
Once, when I was in middle school, I was walking to school, and I found, in the grass, a little starling. It was winter, and the dew on the grass had frozen, and it was very cold. This poor little starling had frost and ice all over his back and wings, and didn't even move when I walked by him. I picked him up and kept him in my pocket for about ten minutes, as I walked, and then he started struggling, so I lifted him out of my pocket, and he flew away. =) I felt so happy that I might have saved his life, since there were (and still are!) SO many feral cats in that area...Thankfully, I didn't catch any zoonotic diseases from it, and I hope he lived a long healthy life.
I'm really glad that your little cardinal was okay and got to fly away safely. =)
I love Cardinals. They brighten up an otherwise long winter.
A few years back this little fella flew into my window. Like the Cardinal it took only minutes for him to recover then I released him. I was afraid the neighborhood cats would get him.
In the 2nd pic, he had his eyes closed and was 'panting'. Poor fella was in shock but he came around pretty quickly. I'm amazed he didn't break his neck.