Avoiding bird strikes?

cb1313 · Apr 16, 2013

Here in Arkansas buzzards and road kill are common. The birds don't want to leave their kill so I slow down and blast the horns.
I approached about 4 birds and after slowing down and blasting the horn the birds took off...... well sort of....... one of the birds flew around and CRAPPED on me. I always carry water so cleaned myself and continued my ride.

Cb

daveinva · Apr 16, 2013

hooliken said: ↑

2003 out for a sunny afternoon ride on my 954RR in Madison County VA. One of these flew out of the ditch and caught me square in the chest.....

Somehow got the bike stopped, fell off into the road without an ounce of wind left in me. Old couple saw the whole thing and stopped to check on me. Huge bruise and my JR leathers stunk like ass for at lesat a month. Killed the fucker dead......
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Two years ago I was riding around a bend in Seneca Creek Park along the Potomac surprised to discover one of these GIANT beasties standing right in front of me. Brake and swerve, I'm certain I brushed its feathers. It never even moved. :eek1

the Pheasant · Apr 16, 2013

jnclem said: ↑

rogue owls
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Excellent.

Copped a blow to the helmet from a pigeon once in south London as it took off. Even at only 30mph it was a hefty if muffled impact.

Was attacked by a buzzard a few years back while cycling in wild west Wales. First I knew of the bird was a massive blow to the top of the head as I rode along a dead-straight, quiet lane in the mountains. I thought someone had thrown a piece of wood at me until I spotted the buzzard flying on ahead. Carried on riding and about 30 seconds later received a second, even harder blow to the top of the head, hard enough to make me stop. Lacerated scalp from the talons, plenty of blood...

The bird was circling above the trees lining the road so I removed my front wheel for use as a shield if needed and walked to the end of the line of trees. When it, presumably, recognised me as a human it flew away. My guess is that it mistook my brown-haired head for a rabbit - the European buzzard's usual prey. I had a job explaining the cause of the injuries to the Spanish locum doctor at the local hospital later.

Mr_Gone · Apr 16, 2013

cb1313 said: ↑

Here in Arkansas buzzards and road kill are common. The birds don't want to leave their kill so I slow down and blast the horns.
I approached about 4 birds and after slowing down and blasting the horn the birds took off...... well sort of....... one of the birds flew around and CRAPPED on me. I always carry water so cleaned myself and continued my ride.

Cb
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I know that buzzard!!! He nearly got me the other day on my way to work. Fortunately, he missed and nailed the poor trucker behind me.

If you see 'em... like buzzards or crows on the side of the road, slow down and duck.

Otherwise, there isn't much you can do to avoid birds. Hiding (cowering, really) behind a huge windscreen usually works for me.

ragtoplvr · Apr 16, 2013

About 81 or 82 I was riding at night when some bird hit the quarter faring in my KZ550 slid up and hit me in the helmet. My hands lost grip, I fell back, my head ht the tail section (I think) and I bounced back up, somehow found the bars, I was right on the edge of the pavement on the wrong side. I regained control, got back on the correct side and stopped. None of it was skill, just not my time I guess. Few feathers, a little blood and a very very sore neck. Long ride home at reduced speeds.

Hit a Robin once with my leg. Damn beak put a hole in my shin.

Rod

DepthFinder · Apr 16, 2013

I've been told the vultures circle back to their meal immediately after passing, and to watch out if I was the second bike.

Sure enough, riding on 281, 4 of them were tearing into a coyote. My buddy blast at them sending them scattering into the air, and then circling right back into the path of where I would have been had I not slowed to a crawl.

They were big enough that one could have dragged it to a ditch if they had the smarts.

norschweger · Apr 16, 2013

An incident like this once saved my life! I was young and in love and even though I was too tired and freezing I kept going on through the dark woods of Norway, straaaaaaaiiiiight...boooooring...until I was almost there and relaxed...in front of a bend.Do not know how long my eyes were closed, but I guess one second more and I would have gone straight into the ditch...if there is a god, he must have sent this bird. It hit hard on my chest and I was very awake the rest of the trip...: )

HooliKen · Apr 16, 2013

daveinva said: ↑

Two years ago I was riding around a bend in Seneca Creek Park along the Potomac surprised to discover one of these GIANT beasties standing right in front of me. Brake and swerve, I'm certain I brushed its feathers. It never even moved. :eek1
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Stinky bastard hit me almost instantly. Right hand corner with two oncoming trucks, second being the couple that actually stopped, embankment was wooded and just below my shoulder level, just caught a climpse of black and BAM!

DOGSROOT · Apr 16, 2013

Plaka said: ↑

So what do you do to keep 'em off of you?
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Ummm...

DUCK?

.
.
.

HooliKen · Apr 16, 2013

DOGSROOT said: ↑

DUCK?

.
.
.
Click to expand...

DUCK!

jnclem · Apr 17, 2013

the Pheasant said: ↑

Excellent.

Copped a blow to the helmet from a pigeon once in south London as it took off. Even at only 30mph it was a hefty if muffled impact.

Was attacked by a buzzard a few years back while cycling in wild west Wales. First I knew of the bird was a massive blow to the top of the head as I rode along a dead-straight, quiet lane in the mountains. I thought someone had thrown a piece of wood at me until I spotted the buzzard flying on ahead. Carried on riding and about 30 seconds later received a second, even harder blow to the top of the head, hard enough to make me stop. Lacerated scalp from the talons, plenty of blood...

The bird was circling above the trees lining the road so I removed my front wheel for use as a shield if needed and walked to the end of the line of trees. When it, presumably, recognised me as a human it flew away. My guess is that it mistook my brown-haired head for a rabbit - the European buzzard's usual prey. I had a job explaining the cause of the injuries to the Spanish locum doctor at the local hospital later.
Click to expand...

Seriously, a lot of these encounters where a bird actually dive-bombs you are territorial, not the bird looking for a meal. No matter what people might say, these birds really aren't stupid. They know you're not a rabbit.

Plaka · Apr 17, 2013

Xtremjeepn said: ↑

Um..........

It must just be you.

When I first saw this thread I passed it by. Thinking that the OP must live somewhere with a crazy amount of birds because I've ridden for 33 years and hundreds of thousands of miles in Colorado and never had this issue.

Then out of curiosity to see where all these bird strike problems are I opened the thread to see that you live just miles from me:huh Colorado isn't exactly thick with birds.

So, my conclusion.......it's you. You are some sort of bird magnet

Out of curiosity. What bike are you riding? I did feel like birds dive bombed me and were generally "more in the way" when I was on my 2007 R1 than any other bike. But never had any contacts.
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All of those were on a black 75/5

Benesesso · Apr 17, 2013

Back in the stone age (1964-5) I was riding my awful Honda 305 Dream at night near Pensacola, doing ~42 MPH. That's as fast as that POS would go in high gear (4th) unless I laid on the tank.

No helmet, just goggles of some kind (read KLR cheap). Some kind of bug hit me right between the eyes. Made a very loud CRACK, didn't fall off but wobbled a bunch. Painful crap got in my eyes. Not a fun ending of the ride.

Montague · Apr 17, 2013

Plaka said: ↑

I've had three bad experiences with birds. The first time I was attacked by an owl. I was doing maybe 10mph on the road to the Cheyenne Mountain zoo and this little owl-with-attitude attacked my helmet, two passes from the front, screeching, talons out, the whole bit. Ducked twice and gassed it to lose 'im

The second time doing 60ish on some urban freeway I drove through a flock of low flying sparrows. Caught one in the throat (MY throat), it stuck for a second, then tumbled aside. I didn't stop.

The third time was running across South Park two up at 90. A little black bird was playing with the cars ahead. It would fly across the road in front of a car (and everybody does 90 on that stretch) and then pop up into the air on the wave pushed by the car. It did the two cars in front of me then tried with me. It hit me high in the chest. Felt that one through the leathers. I stopped and walked back. Very daid boydy.

So what do you do to keep 'em off of you?
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Not sure what you can do proactively to avoid birds (other than duck....hee hee) but I have experienced a few heart stopping encounters.

Many years ago on the back roads of northern New York where forest came right up to the edge of ditch on either side, a very large turkey burst out at about 3 feet and slowly climbing across my path.

I swerved and ducked and swear I felt his feet scrape my helmet! Turkeys are very big and even more so when closing at 60 mph.

On another occasion, a friend was in the lead when a ruffed grouse pulled a similar take off. He (the bird) wasn't so luck as his bigger cousin, he hit the fairing square on.

A literal explosion but when we pulled over, there were feathers stuck in every possible place on the nose of the bike.

Not enough actual bird left to notice. Grouse are definitely lightly built.

atomicalex · Apr 17, 2013

I haven't hit a bird yet, but I've hit enough large bugs to really not want to hit anything bigger. I took out something cicada-sized last summer with my visor, and damn, that was mess enough.

Mr_Gone · Apr 17, 2013

atomicalex said: ↑

I haven't hit a bird yet, but I've hit enough large bugs to really not want to hit anything bigger. I took out something cicada-sized last summer with my visor, and damn, that was mess enough.
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Grasshoppers, June bugs, and dragonflies really really really hurt. I can only imagine something the size of a cicada would hurt just as much.

J_White · Apr 17, 2013

Popped over a hill running 60ish, surprised this fellow on side of the road.
All I had time to do was brace and duck...
Hit left fork tube, then somehow rolled up and caught left mirror, spinning it
around, then down my back.
Chunks of meat all over left boot and pants leg, bird crap down my back.
Wobbled a bit but kept it under control. Funny part was, about five miles
down the road stopped at a red light and a really comical pirate dude
pulled up right beside me on a cruiser. Chrome novelty helmet, loud pipes
the whole deal. I just looked over at him and nodded, smiled - but know
he must have been thinking WTF? cause I'm telling you, I REEKED!
Took a month and several washings to lose that smell.

jnclem · Apr 17, 2013

J_White said: ↑

Popped over a hill running 60ish, surprised this fellow on side of the road.
All I had time to do was brace and duck...
Hit left fork tube, then somehow rolled up and caught left mirror, spinning it
around, then down my back.
Chunks of meat all over left boot and pants leg, bird crap down my back.
Wobbled a bit but kept it under control. Funny part was, about five miles
down the road stopped at a red light and a really comical pirate dude
pulled up right beside me on a cruiser. Chrome novelty helmet, loud pipes
the whole deal. I just looked over at him and nodded, smiled - but know
he must have been thinking WTF? cause I'm telling you, I REEKED!
Took a month and several washings to lose that smell.

Click to expand...

What kind of bird is that? Looks big.

J_White · Apr 18, 2013

jnclem said: ↑

What kind of bird is that? Looks big.
Click to expand...

Buzzard, yep was a pretty good sized one!

larryboy · Apr 18, 2013

I almost got clobbered by a turkey on a gravel road doing about 100 mph, hung over the side of the bike so it wouldn't hit me in the head...those things don't fly very good. :eek1

Caught a quail to the face at 3 AM in Death Valley once. Note to self: Wear goggles at all times.

Had my goggles on for this one, gravel road down near the CO/NM border doing 'bout 60 mph, caught 3 or 4 of these little birds to the chest, one or two to the shins and a few to the head. :huh

Don't get me started about bees. :ddog

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