Birds and cars have endured a reasonably contentious relationship. We (within the cars) are notorious for blasting big heavy metal windowed machines through their flight paths, they usually have the expected (and unappreciated) duty to take an enormous sh*t on our newly washed and waxed vehicles. But one bird could also be trying to change that dynamic as he terrorizes the vehicles of a Scottish suburb.
Residents of Lochardil, Inverness told the BBC that the little green-feathered menace has been pecking away at window seals and the rubbery parts of windshield wipers on their cars, causing 1000’s of kilos in estimated damages. The bird allegedly targets cars in the realm in stints — disappearing for a few weeks before returning. Notably, residents will alert the others via shout that he’s at it again.
His destructive antics have made him a block of enemies. Enough that the word “parakeet” is sort of a forbidden word in the realm, kinda like “Voldermort” or “politics” for other applicable conversations.
Identified by nature experts as a rose-ringed parakeet, these birds are usually not native to Scotland, in keeping with the bird bible that’s the Audubon. Though, as a consequence of the attractive nature of keeping these little green parrot-like birds as pets, a growing feral population does exist within the UK, just not seemingly within the far north of Scotland.
Is it just nature?
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) explained the parakeet is the UK’s only “naturalized parrot” — common to see in London and southeastern parts of the UK, but typically not Scotland. It’s believed the devilish bird is an escaped pet. Desperate residents have reached out to organizations for help handling the bird, but because it’s considered a wild bird, their hands are tied.
NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency, was unsure why the parrot could be eating or dismantling the rubber parts of automobile, but offered just a few theories as to why. One theory is territorial and it’s reacting to its reflection in windows. The bird could also crave the fats and minerals within the rubber. Or, it’s just bored. Although when the sky isn’t even your limit, the last one is just a little difficult to consider.
There might be something to the fats and minerals within the rubber, though. Manufacturers have made concessions utilizing different natural products to make rubbers and plastics. It is not unusual to search out soy-based products in your automobile just like the sheathing found on wiring, which is a favourite for mice.
Within the meantime, residents are on their very own coping with the bird problem. Some shared their modern bird-repelling solutions with STV News which included covering the cars with tarps, putting snakes on their dashboards, and even brushing peppermint oil into the rubber. Apparently, the bird isn’t a fan of peppermint.
This Article First Appeared At www.jalopnik.com
