or something decorated my MINI yesterday. I was inside working most of the day, didn't go out, finally left around 6 p.m., but it was dark and I didn't even notice (and yes, I usually do a walk around my car before i even get in it.) Anyway, I'm leaving my brother's house at about 8 p.m. and the lights were shining just right and what do I see... several splats on my black roof, one on my driver's side back window, one on the gas tank lid, some on the rear panel... it was like they had attacked or something. i'm like... WTF? It seems that if one doesn't go off to work, but lets their car sit in the driveway for even a day, it is fair game. either that or i'm underneath a heavily traveled route south.

it was too much for me to feel comfortable about hitting it all with a Slick quick detail, and I didn't want it to sit overnight... so there I was at 8:30 p.m. in 44 degree weather at the DIY wash bay, giving Grover a quick bath. anyone else that neurotic?

 

You did the right thing. That stuff that Bullseye the pigeon & his friends left on your car can & will mark your paint forever.

 

good to hear you washed it. 44F is nothing here in chi-town.

i start washing cars on my driveway when it's 38F.

 

I have a lot of experience with this. A good coat of wax always helps (I prefer Zaino Z5), but isn't a guarantee.

I have learned that you shouldn't park near a telephone pole, or some place where they like to land/take off. They seem to like to poop when taking off or landing. (I'm no bird expert)

Here's a photo of the damage they did to the paint on my Miata. I tried buffing it out, but I could never get rid of it completely:

 

i hate birds... only chicken and peking duck should live.

 

yikes! i didn't really think those stories about what it could do to your paint were true... okay, i guess I believed them enough to wash the car off in the mid-evening at a DIY place.

 

I forgot to mention that I washed the poop off about 4 hours after it occurred. But I park near a Burger King and people like to park and feed the birds French fries. So maybe that contributed to toxicity of the poop!

 

^^ LOL!!

 

So that's why my bum burns when I've been to BK

 

TOO much information! <j/k>

 

Your paint will be etched within 10 seconds of the poop landing on the paint. Wax won't protect from this physical attack. Your best bet is to keep a liberal amount of Quick Detailer and liberally soak the area as soon as it hits and blot it off to minimize the damage. Depending on how long the poop has sat, often the damage can be minimized and sometimes it can't without repainting.

Richard

 

saw the flock of seagulls coming........

And I ran, I ran so far away.
I just ran, I ran all night and day.
I couldnt get away......

 

Visual aid for the above post.

 

wonder if that hair will every make a comback. actually that's kinda what my car looked like

yikes.

 

I hope it doesnt.

I'm an 80's nut, and even I think that hair was a bit too much.

 

Bring Back The 80's! haha

 

I'd like to bet he was a real chick magnet with a hairstyle like that

Yet another talented bunch from Liverpool, however I don't actually ever remember seeing anyone walking the streets with a similar tonsorial creation.

On reflection, probably a good thing

 

You guys crack me up! Ah, the 80's. Where would we be without them??

I agree that you did the right thing. Washing right away is always best! You are definitely not alone there. Although, I wish even more people would do this!

It is interesting how bird droppings can vary in their acidity and damage-ability. Not only do different birds "drop" different contents but a bird in one part of town may drop something different than one in another part of town. You never really know how bad and how quickly the damage can be. That's why it's so important to wash right away. Using a QD is helpful when you simply cannot wash for whatever reason or cannot wash soon enough.

-Heather
(stuck in upstate New York due to even more snow in Denver!!)

 

Heather is a birdpoopologist and OctaneGuy is a pad sniffer. It just keeps getting weirder & weirder.
Hope you get home soon Heather.

 

yah, ImagoX likes to play with MF in his pants ie: IPP.

seems like im like the most normal guy here. ahem!

 

Well now, THAT's a scary thought!

 

ok, so i tried to pull a fast one.