Are birds colour conscious of cars.?

[vivandorron]

I have a silver-grey car and my next door neighbor has a darkish red one. Both vehicles are parked alongside each other in our respective drives.

My neighbors car appears to remain free of bird droppings but mine is subjected to a considerable amount of bird s......soiling.

I live about a mile inland from the coast and, if I had a boat in my drive, I would accept that seabirds were seeking out a poop-deck:-)

Ron.

[NazNomad]

Birds can see in colour AND ultra-violet.

[vivandorron]

Hi Naz....Any ideas as to what colours they prefer; or dislike. I have heard that Robins in effect dislike red and will attack a ball of red wool if you place it in a position they can have access to it.

Ron.

[Andyvon]

I don't think they would make a point of messing on your car though Vivandorron - regardless of the colour. I don't know why your car appears to have more mess on. Maybe your neighbour cleans their car more often or goes to the car wash without you knowing.

[NazNomad]

It might be a colour they associate with predators that makes them choose one colour over another, but honestly, I have no idea.

[vivandorron]

My neighbor always cleans his car in his drive and never goes to a car-wash.

The reason I posed the question is because in my mind I have a thought of having read many years ago that Blue cars were 'bombed' by seagulls who saw the colour as being water.... Consequently I was hoping that another ABer may have heard the same theory..........Perhaps my mind has gone!!

Ron.

[NazNomad]

I've read the same stories, but about red and/or white cars.

[Andyvon]

I know it's a hell of a job to get the stuff off anyway!

[Jan1957]

I have read the same ron. Apparently, in the sunlight your car looks like a patch of water and birds head for it and then just fly away at the last minute when they realise it isn't. It's also why you get swans landing on motorways in bright sunlight as they think it's a river.

[Andyvon]

That makes sense Jan.

[what..the?]

well birds have better colour vision then humans we have three dimensional colour vision and they have four plus the UV.

Regards the preference to poop on your silver car, Stab in the dark here..but...is it because birds see the paler cars as a nice sitting spot because in the summer they get less hot but allow them to still catch the rays and because of this even though they might never sit on your silver car, local birds poop on the 'more attractive' silver cars just to mark it to say this is my fly zone stay out?? Or are the paler cars more attractive because they reflect plumage better like a mirror, or by reflection make them look bigger and make it look like two birds instead of one therefore less attractive to be attacked..

Or is there a big tree over you car

Or a bird feeder in the neighbours garden...lol

[NazNomad]

Maybe they just don't like Skodas?



pmsl ... sorry Ron ;-)))

[Jan1957]

Mind you, my car is black and is regularly given a dousing by the bloody seagulls down here on the coast.

[what..the?]

here's the answer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YnENyBdGd8

[NazNomad]

Great ad, although I did prefer the 'cat in a sunroof' one they did.

[what..the?]

http://www.myfinances...-uk-motorists-for-57m

"The research also showed birds can be selective about the cars they hit.

Just 86 per cent of drivers of green cars have been hit by bird droppings in the last year, compared to 92 per cent of drivers of silver cars. Green car drivers are also hit less often."

[vivandorron]

I am pleased with all the responses to this thread. However, as NazNomad is IMO a genuine and knowledgeable 'Birdie Boy', I put to him (humorously) the following:-

Perhaps I would be better-off with a Skoda than my 8yr old Seat Leon because the Skoda logo is a Winged flying arrow; which looks like a bird and might put-off fouling fliers from shooting in its direction..........On the other hand, it could encourage even more to attack what they see as an intruder into their preserve. :-) ☺☺☺

Ron.

[josadler7]

I have the same problem, silver car targeted by birds, having owned other colour cars and not had the problem I conclude you are right.

[vivandorron]

Hi jos.....I am delighted that someone else thinks the way I do and has the same problem.

Incidentally, for info of all, my car is not parked underneath any trees; and is something I shall always avoid.....Once parked under a tree on a hot summers day; which resulted in my car being covered in sticky sap.

Ron.

[Hopkirk]

Your answer may be to look up, and see what they perch on over you car.

Tree? street light? telephone cable? TV aerial?

[Hopkirk]

Oops, didn't read your last answer.