I hate my roof rack

mysql

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Location
United States
TDI
Jetta wagon
I hate the roof rack on my 2010 JSW.

Where I park my car at work, there is a "nature preserve" type area, river, trees, giant friggin' birds!



On the first day I drove to work, when I left for the day, I was looking over the car, and it looked great. Except when I looked at the passenger side. Some bird had bird diarrhea all over the door.

When I got home, I cleaned it off.

Second day, same exact thing. All over the door.

I think the birds are landing on the roof rack and then taking a dump on the car. Compare the size of the birds to the park bench. They are pretty damn big.

So tempting to bring a gun and shoot them. But I don't think the office would appreciate it.

I've never had this problem in 5 years with my RX-8.
 

frugality

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Location
Spring Lake, Michigan
TDI
none, 2016 GTI
I wonder if there's some sort of high-frequency pest repeller that you could run in the car while you're at work. I think they make such things for keeping rodents away, but don't know if it'd work for birds, or if there's something that would work for birds.

Hey, here ya go:
http://www.bird-x.com/quad-blaster-qb4-p-13.html

http://www.avianweb.com/sonicbirdcontrol.html

Petition your boss to have one installed in the parking lot. :)

Or mount these on your roof rack! :D
http://www.bird-x.com/products-bird-spikes-c-5_13.html
 
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fleuger99

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Nov 25, 2009
Location
MA
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2012 Touareg TDI
Take bird food to work and place it on the opposite side of the building from your car. All the birds will gather on that side of the building hopefully leaving your car alone. ;)
 

mbsatkins

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Location
Norfolk, VA
TDI
2010 JSW TDI
You could attach a fake owl to your racks. You know the ones people put on their docks/piers to discourage birds from pooping on them. Unless there's a high owl population in the area... that might cause more problems. :p
 

mysql

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Jan 19, 2010
Location
United States
TDI
Jetta wagon
hehe.

I don't think feeding them will help - it will give them reason to hang out more.

The $500 siren is too costly.

It's amazing how the birds are able to crap so precisely on that one passenger side door. I'll try parking it one spot over, but there's nothing overhead the car, so no chance of them sitting in a tree and doing it.
 

rickcrna1

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Location
Vancouver, WA
TDI
2010 JSW
For God's sakes, leave the birds alone! They were there long before you showed up on the scene with your new JSW.

Keep a roll of paper towels and cleaner in the car and use as needed. I empathize with your aggravation....but the birds deserve to be there too. We all have to co-exist.

And....resist any neanderthal notion to shoot something as a way to problem solve....there is already to much of that insanity going around.
 

mysql

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Jetta wagon
I don't know if it's true they were here before me. I've been parking there since Jan 2005. What's the lifespan of a bird like that?
 

Scenic Driver

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Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Location
Orange County, NY
TDI
2010 Golf TDI
mbsatkins said:
You could attach a fake owl to your racks. You know the ones people put on their docks/piers to discourage birds from pooping on them. Unless there's a high owl population in the area... that might cause more problems. :p
I was going to suggest the same thing. Growing up my dad did that to keep the pigeons from crapping on our balcony. It worked.
 

falconguy

Well-known member
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Nov 25, 2009
Location
NJ
TDI
tba
I work in corporate aviation, birds are something I see an awful amount of $$$ spent to move, the only thing moved in my 20 years watching, my $$$..

That said watch out for bird bombs, if you ever had a pet bird you may recall they need gravel to digest. Not all but most, seeds are tough too, this may be uh umdigested so to speak.. Then a paper towel may give more harm than its worth. I know a lot of people have opinions, me too, but my obsession the majority of my life has been cars, detailing like an ocd thing more than bragging mind you.. To have that pic not end up in worse down the road put a sealant like Klasse or Zaino on the car. I know you will get 100 views on whats best, these 2 are imo the best for your problem, appearance is great or you can top with wax if you want.

To handle my bird bombs I use Optimum No rinse or equivelant, its much better suited than windex or even a quick detailer.

If you want send me your info, I will send you an ounce, enough to do your wagon twice. I dont sell anything, just an offer to help
good luck
 

jbright

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Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Location
Indianapolis
TDI
2009 Jetta DSG
Feeding them won't work, unless you want to use rotten meat or road kill, because I think those are black vultures (buzzards to most of us). Eating them? Even the 'Nuge wouldn't go there. Maybe razor wire?:D
 

Hamman

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Oct 4, 1999
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Warren, OH
TDI
No TDI's, but an '84 Rabbit diesel
Would you be willing to attach with a strip of velcro a long row of upside down thumbtacks that would discourage the birds from landing? I know that this works with some monuments, but would have the obvious problem of poor aesthetics. Carpet tack strips work, too!
 

Damn True

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Jan 15, 2010
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Mountain View, CA
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None yet
jbright said:
Feeding them won't work, unless you want to use rotten meat or road kill, because I think those are black vultures (buzzards to most of us). Eating them? Even the 'Nuge wouldn't go there. Maybe razor wire?:D
Ahh, I thought they were turkeys.
 

jbright

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Location
Indianapolis
TDI
2009 Jetta DSG
They are the big birds you see soaring in lazy circles (looking for something dead to eat). I think they winter in places like Florida. There's another kind called a turkey buzzard that has a red head and wattles, kind of like a turkey, hence the name. The bodies of the two birds are similar. They are nature's garbage men, so don't shoot them, although they are pug ugly. But well designed for the dirty job they do. Wild turkeys are a lot prettier, if you can believe that.
 
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frugality

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Sep 19, 2003
Location
Spring Lake, Michigan
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none, 2016 GTI
rickcrna1 said:
And....resist any neanderthal notion to shoot something as a way to problem solve....there is already to much of that insanity going around.
It's actually not a neanderthal notion. We as humans have disturbed the balance of things by simply moving in and building cities and suburbs, which caused natural predators to move on and find more space. Here in the Midwest, if we don't shoot deer, they become way over-populated and actually damage their own species. We help them by shooting them. They're tasty, too. ;) Unless you're in WI where the deer have that chronic wasting disease. Wouldn't want to eat those.

mysql just needs to bring in some foxes. :)
 

ricks

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Jul 13, 2009
Location
False City, WA.
TDI
'10 Jetta Sportwagen
Maybe you can see if you can electrify your rails be attaching them to an Aux battery in the back compartment and then have a couple of quick disconnect wire attachments from it to the rails. Did some one say KFC?
 

mysql

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Location
United States
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Jetta wagon
I was thinking more like rail gun with motion sensors.





(Little did we know, this was really how cyberdyne systems started)
 

frugality

Top Post Dawg
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Spring Lake, Michigan
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none, 2016 GTI
ricks said:
Maybe you can see if you can electrify your rails be attaching them to an Aux battery in the back compartment and then have a couple of quick disconnect wire attachments from it to the rails. Did some one say KFC?
I remember reading about a ship that had a problem with seagulls perching on their railings and pooping all over. So they electrified the railings. It worked fine for a time. Throw the switch and the birds got shocked and took off. But in a fairly short time they learned. When the switch was thrown, they would just lift one leg. (no current going through them that way) So flipping the switch would essentially just make them do a little dance.
 

BolaB4V

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At my local golf course here, is a 1/2 scale rubber silhouette thing on a stick of a wolf :eek: used to keep the geese away from certain areas. I dont know if it would work on buzzards. They're probably smart like crows. A local g/course could set you up with one.
 

jbright

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Indianapolis
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If I were a buzzard what would I be scared of? Probably, not much. Florida = alligators. Would a rubber/inflatable gator be effective/practical? Would someone steal it? Most animals are afraid of snakes (rubber rattler coiled and ready to strike). And the wolf/fox/dog/big cat thing might work (stuffed toy?). But if it just laid there the buzzards might think it looked like dinner. A bird of prey, like a hawk or owl, may work, but these guys are pretty damned big and nasty so they might be afraid of other birds, except an eagle. Seriously, I know how much bird **** bothers me on my black car so I can sympathize with your problem, rather than laugh. There has to be something that will keep them off. Maybe something that moves in the wind????? The car cover in some form might be the least trouble and most effective in the long run.
 
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whigmaleeries

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Feb 3, 2010
Location
Orlando
TDI
2002 Jetta TDI wagon
Spiderwebs

Most birds have a natural aversion to spiders. Wether or not those scavengers do I dont know, but for years we would put 2-6 pound test monofilament fishing line around our docks/pool area and the birds wouldn't get near em. Try using a little down the top of your racks, its virtually invisible.
 

mysql

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United States
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Jetta wagon
I found a fish skeleton next to my car this morning. At least it was "next to", and not "on top of"
 

falconguy

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Nov 25, 2009
Location
NJ
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tba
Ran your problem past the bird control guy at my airport, big position, makes more than me!

Without knowing species, he said cut out border collies seem to work short term, move often. Oddly cost not in any way better, details not important. Google the idea, sure someone sell, he said save your money

good luck
 

Camarones

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mysql said:
I found a fish skeleton next to my car this morning. At least it was "next to", and not "on top of"
If its a horse head next time you'd better watch your back!
 

diesel-dave

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Aug 26, 2007
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earth
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mbsatkins said:
You could attach a fake owl to your racks. You know the ones people put on their docks/piers to discourage birds from pooping on them. Unless there's a high owl population in the area... that might cause more problems. :p

thats a good idea

or a fake hawk
or a car cover
 
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