General Index
[1 - Overview] [2 - My wreck!] [7 - Crazy Robin!] [9 - Candy's Ranger] [10 - Keypad entry system]

Meets and Outings
[11 - Centralia adventure Part I] [21 - Centralia adventure Part II]

How-To Articles
[3 - Overhead Console Install] [4 - Overhead Console Wiring] [5 - MAF mod] [6 - LED switch mod] [8 - Homebrew Remote Bass Control] [12 - Headlight/4x4 Switch LED Mod] [13 - General LED tutorial] [14 - EATC install how-to (pages 14-19)] [20 - IAT Resistor Mod (older engines only)] [22 - Automatic Power Windows] [23 - Cruise Control Pod LED's]

Crazy Robin Loves Rangers!

I have a problem with a bird. This crazy Robin has a love/hate relationship with my truck, and now with anything parked in my yard. But it started with the Ranger. Here's my loco bird friend perched on my drivers side mirror working himself up.
See, here's what he does. In this picture he's perched on the rubber trim at the base of the window, glaring into the passenger's side rear view mirror at his own image. What I believe happens is that he thinks he's seeing another bird invading his territory and feels he has to drive it off. Next he launches himself fluttering at the mirror, pecking it furiously for as long as he can hover there -- which is not long -- and then falls to the ground. He then flys up on the mirror, works himself up (while pooping all over the mirror), jumps down to the window trim, launches at his reflection, and repeats this cycle again and again!
Now I've tried several things and get rid of him, including running out and scaring him, trying to squirt him with the hose, etc. Nothing works. I don't have a BB or small caliber weapon (my 30-30 is a bit of overkill, I think). So first I put rags over the mirrors, but he knocked them off. I taped them on, but it was too much trouble. Finally I got smart and simply folded the mirrors in and that minimized the problem. He'll land once, get worked up, go down on the trim, and when he doesn't see himself, he'll try the other side. Seeing no enemy, he flies off and does in my wife's Honda, which does not have folding mirrors! He sometimes poops once or twice while getting worked up, but it's nothing like the sh*t storm I had to deal with in the beginning!

He does seem to be interested in the truck in moments of rest. I caught him in a more meditative (or tired) moment checking out the interior. On the left below he seems to be pondering the incredibly chintzy dome light the Ranger Edge comes with. To the right below he seems to be admiring my overhead console installation. He may be a crappy bird, but he does have good taste in trucks!

Robin Update: Panic alarm and my wife's solution

First, I have very little problem now. Whenever he's been getting on my truck and I see him, I hit the panic alarm button. Now when he gets on my truck, he's very nervous and often flies away almost immediately.

My wife, though, had a different solution -- car condoms! Well, actually they're shower caps. Check it out:

They look pretty silly, but they work. He doesn't seem to like the feel of them when he lands on them and he takes right off again.