05/20/08: We seem to have the poopy robin problem taken care of. Just after I posted the video of that nutty robin, I called the local
Wild Birds Unlimited and explained my predicament to the woman there. She said that it was likely that there was a nest nearby, and that was why the robins were hanging around. She also thought that this behavior, like the reported cases of robins flying into windows, would stop once mating season was over, probably in a couple weeks.
I told her that I had seen these inflatable owls on the 'net and was wondering if they carried them, or if she thought they would work. She told me that robins are pretty smart birds, and if the owl was not moving, they would figure out that it was not a threat and ignore it. She recommended either tying some of those mylar balloons on the antenna, or covering the car with a sheet, but making sure that it was loose enough to flutter in the breeze. She thought the motion of either would be enough to keep the birds away.
So that night I got out this plastic tarp that we had in the cabinet and layed it across the roof of Stephie's Beetle, closing the door on either side. It didn't completely cover the car, but enough of the roof, and it was a little loose so the wind blew it around a bit. There were a couple spots on the car the next morning, but we left it on a couple days and ... nothing. Not on the Beetle, not on my car, not on the neighbor's car, nothing! We've since had the cars parked out there without any covering and it's been just fine. It seems that one weekend with the plastic was enough to scare them away. Thanks, Wild Birds Unlimited!
05/04/08:
More Bird Fun: When I got home from work on Friday, I thought I'd switch parking places with Stephie, figuring that maybe I'd confuse the poopy robin. Apparently, she's too smart for me, but at least this time I was able to grab the camera and catch her in the act.
So yesterday, Stephie figured she'd had enough and parked in front. Judging by the shape of the cars this morning, either she parked under the wrong tree or her car is actually the object of the robin's affections, because my car (in back) is clear but hers is not!
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