Don’t laugh if you see a bird looking angry and ready to go to war with your car mirror. Birds may look cute making angry faces with themselves in your car mirror, but your car and the bird may sustain damage if not stopped. Also, it means that the mating season for birds is here, and the male birds are making rounds to show other male birds who are boss. The problem with birds is that they are too obsessed with removing the intruder that they do not realize it is their reflection.
Overview
- Why do birds attack your car mirror?
- What are the damages birds can do to your car?
- Things you can do to stop birds from attacking your car mirrors
- Other tips you can do stop birds from attacking
Why do birds attack your car mirror?
When birds are full of their mating hormones, they are wary of competition. So male birds will defend their territories from other birds, no matter what the cost. And when these jealous alpha male birds see your car mirror, they see an intruder that needs to go away. But, of course, these birds do not realize that they are fighting with themselves and can never really harm the other bird.
What are the damages birds can do to your car?
The damage birds can do to your car depends on the species of bird that is attacking your car mirror. The most the bird can do is leave a scratch on the mirror. And sometimes leave your car with a bird bomb. But of course, having scratches on your vehicle, on whatever part of it, could cause you money to have it replaced. And since a bird attack is also considered an act of God, it will not be covered by insurance, most of the time.
To make sure your car is still in pristine condition the way you leave it and that the birds will not exhaust themselves by whacking their reflections, here are some tricks and tips that you can do.
Things you can do to stop birds from attacking your car mirrors
In most cases, changing your parking area or location will diffuse the tension of birds and leave your vehicle alone. However, if you unwittingly go near the bird’s territory, the birds may attack your vehicle more furiously. And this will result in angry and very exhausted birds and scratches on your car. So, aside from changing your parking location, here are some tricks you can do as well.
Cover your side mirror
Birds often target side mirrors because it is the most reflective part of your car. Therefore, while parked, you might consider covering your side mirrors.
Use a plastic bag
You can use a colored plastic bag or paper bag to cover your side mirrors. Then, tie them with a rubber band. Once it is covered up, birds will no longer see an intruder and, therefore, will leave your side mirror alone. Just don’t forget to remove the covering once you’re about to go.
Use black socks
Some people are hesitant to use plastic or paper bags because they create minor scratches on their side mirrors. Not to mention, it is not eco-friendly using plastic. Well, if that is the case, black socks will do the trick. It will not damage the side mirrors, is very eco-friendly, reusable, and protects you from bird attacks.
Use Cardboard
Another trick is to use cardboard. All you need to do is use a piece of cardboard that fits snugly into your car mirror. It will cover the reflective portion of your car mirror, making it hidden and bird-proof. Just make sure the cardboards will not fall while you are grocery shopping.
Make your car mirrors less reflective.
If you are too lazy to use a cover, you can also make your car mirror less reflective. However, it will not be that easy to get out of the parking space. But if you are not very comfortable covering your car mirrors, you can always use these things to make your car mirrors less appealing to birds.
Soap
You can use soap to make your car mirrors less appealing since soap residue will stick to your mirror, making it less reflective and the image blurry.
Dirt
Letting your side mirror get dirty to avoid bird attacks is probably one thing I would less recommend doing. But it doesn’t mean that it is not practical. Dirt will make your car mirror less reflective as well. Just don’t let it get too dirty that even you cannot see the road.
Fold your side mirror.
You can also fold your side mirror right after you park. Folding your side mirror will make sure that no birds can see its reflection. Not only that, but it will also be safe from damage from other vehicles or people. The only downside is that you need to adjust the mirror every time you drive out of the parking lot.
Other tips you can do
Car Cover
Although birds are just attacking your side mirror most of the time, they can also attack other parts of your car, especially if the car is shiny and just came out of the car wash. For these instances, use a car cover to protect your vehicle not just from dirt but also from bird attacks and bird bombs.
No to reflective tint
Reflective tint for your car windows provides you with privacy, and it also reflects the sun’s rays from entering your car. As a result, your car temperature will drop than without one. However, reflective tints work as a disadvantage when you are dealing with birds. The shade reflects images. And that means birds will be able to see their reflection. And we do not want that.
For warmer places that typically use tints on cars, you can use a shade that does not reflect much light. Or opt not to use them at all.
Birds are only showing their aggressive nature during the mating season, usually from spring to summer. Although it lasted for just a week or so, some species’ mating season can last up to a month. So make sure you are always alert, especially if you live in an area where birds are plentiful.
