I have a shiny black camper van ... a bloody big crow keeps attacking the van because I assume it is seeing its reflection and keeps attacking what it perceives to be a rival but is just clawing and pecking my paintwork.
Any tips how to stop this apart from shooting it? I don't have a gun any more.
Last edited by Montello; 5th June 2023 at 09:58.
Get a photo of the mother in law printed onto a transfer and place where the scratches are
That’s what happens when you clean you cars!
Keep them dirty and covered in muck and there are no reflections…
Seriously, I am not sure what you could do.
How bl00dy annoying
I have no idea if either of these suggestions would work at all, but here goes nothing....
Whilst not a cheap option, could you consider a matt black wrap for your camper, if cost prevents a whole vehicle wrap perhaps just the sides maybe?
A much cheaper option worth a try maybe, I have seen people have plastic decoy birds and bird type balloons to scare birds away from vegetable patches and balconies, worth a few quid to try one of these perhaps? Search bird scarer on amazon for possible suggestions.
Time to get a car cover.
That would be annoying and a bit bizarre to keep coming back and attacking it. Crows are supposed to be good at problem solving. Sounds like a vendetta.
never seen anything like that and i am in an area with a very large number of crows and have had all sorts of shiny reflective cars.
keep it dirty i guess, what else can you do.
A crow with a vendetta? That's the first time I've read that anywhere!Originally Posted by Onelasttime
Something similar happens at my house jn India which has mirrored glass in the windows. We get birds who see their reflection and then peck away at the glass.
Asked my neighbours and was told that the bird(s) would eventually realise and stop so how long has this crow been doing this and every time it happens go out and chase the bugger away.
Might sound counter-intuitive but try feeding him. Crows will quite often bring you gifts when you make friends with them. If you hit it off he might bring you a scratch repair kit…
Last edited by jimmbob; 5th June 2023 at 09:51.
I once had a Ford Pilot that was subject to a similar attack but by a ram.
The scratches were the least of my worries.
The scene of the crime was round the back of the Crown Inn, Hutton-le-Hole where I was camping for a week.
That is why you won't see me in a shiny car any more.
I've put dust sheets round it for the moment ... bloody thing ...
Sounds like the simplest way out.
Sorry! Get an air rifle and end of problem, they are not protected I don’t believe. I will probably get roasted for this, but it’s what I would do.
"Bus' a cap in its Ass"
They're quite well-known for holding grudges!A crow with a vendetta? That's the first time I've read that anywhere!
Fixed that for you…
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects crows as well as all other wild birds in the UK. This means that it is illegal to take, injure or kill a crow, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.
Intentional or not - thats very good...
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
Won't it be able to peck its way out?
Knowing my luck, if I tried to shoot it, I'd miss and my van would be full of pellet holes!
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer, but, what a pain - looking at the picture of the van the crow has done a fair bit of damage.
Friend has similar with his S2000 and a peacock when he was visiting someone on a farm.
Good luck in finding a solution.
I was walking in Windsor Great Park a few weeks ago and saw an outline of a bird of prey on a curved piece of metal stuck into the ground on the putting green. It moved about in the wind. You could try something similar.
Laptony Bird Scarer Flying Kite Crops Farm Protector Bird Hawk Flying Kite with 4m Telescopic Pole https://amzn.eu/d/fk0aFjZ
Or mount it to your roof!
Googled 'crow deterrent' and this came up:
"Hang Something Shiny Throughout Your Yard
Crows are not a huge fan of any shiny objects (1). Therefore, a tried and tested method of how to get rid of blackbirds is to hang shiny objects in your yard. These shiny objects might include anything ranging from CDs or those party strings. Anything that shines will work.
They think it is some kind of a weapon which is dangerous. This information is built into their brains, and they get nervous when they see something shiny. Therefore, you can hang those lustering aluminum plates as well.
And if you hang these CDs or plates close to each other so that they can produce noise, the results will be even better. If these shiny objects are in abundance, you will see no crow will ever think about entering your yard. Many people use this technique to get rid of crows in no time."
Last edited by sundial; 5th June 2023 at 13:31.
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
You were ram raided then.
As I said someone will not like my solution 🤣. Would still do it anyway…..
Get a vinyl decal of an eye or roundel . 6-7 inches round
Place on car
Crow will go for the eye minimising area damage and hopefully the vinyl will protect enough.
Also you will be blessed by Osiris with good luck and safe travels
I think he's nesting in the hedge in the back garden; I'm going to buy a couple of 12"mirror tiles and lean them up against the fence; give him something else to fight with ....
Last edited by Montello; 5th June 2023 at 15:46.
Very good.
Crows are easily scared away by the use of a laser pen pointed at or nearby to them. Works better when not in direct sunlight, better still at dawn or dusk. In the case of a vehicle, shining the laser at the reflectors produces a wide dispersion of the light which gives greater effect.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...f-this-licence
However only appears to cover damage to livestock and feed not cars from what I can see.
You will have to break the cycle of repeated visits to challenge its "rival". I think the only way you will do this is to stop the reflection somehow. Maybe a cover is the answer until it goes away. We had the same problem with a blackbird on our kitchen window. It was a pain for about four years on the trot this time of year with it attacking its own reflection at dawn.
^^^ Had this with a blue tit. Would sit on the handle of kitchen door and peck at the glass. Stuck up a picture of an owl but didn't work.
Found dead eventually (presumably same one and died of exhaustion/hunger).
I’ve just tipped my neighbour off that the crow is also attacking his Range Rover. I’m hoping that may achieve a resolution.
LOL - literally!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ye a blue tit destroyed my neighbour's door mirror. I recommended moving the car a little which stopped it for a while but then it found it again. Then it just stopped - his was dark blue. His wife was paranoid but that could have been the tablets. Tin foil hats all round.
B
I am surprised at the damaged. I never thought that claws and beak would be hard enough to scratch the paint (they are keratin after all)
You live and learn.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
When you solve the problem, will you come on here crowing about it!
Jim
I bet it won’t be cheep!
He'll keep on raven about it.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Take a look at the paintwork behind car door handles to see how much damage even human nails can inflict. Having had an owl sink it’s talons into my hand I can vouch for how sharp they are.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
I accept the evidence (although your skin doesn't have the same hardness as a car paint).
Question thought: This ceramic coating vaunted by detailer, is it as hard as ceramic? Because that would be the solution for the OP
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Indeed. You'd likely end up in front of the beak . . .
F.T.F.A.
The magistrate would likely leave him with a very big BILL.
OP, If you do use a decoy, you could use Velcrow to fix it to your fence.
Everyone is a comedi-hen…
There's a pun in here somewhere about the Corvid pandemic but I can't be bothered refining it.
If you do foil the feathery vandal you will be well choughed.
And the effect of throwing an egg at a car. Egg shell is soft right? Nope straight through clear coat and paint.
My skin doesn't, but the bones in my hand are a lot harder - and he penetrated them too.
I was definately off his christmas card list afterwards.
But more on topic, a Q&D of the door handle recess on SWMBO's car...
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Could be a feather in his cap!
Jim
The bird will have flown by then I reckon.
Jim
That’ll never stick.
Jim
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