Birds Making a Home in Your Engine Bay
If you’ve ever popped the bonnet after parking up for a couple of days on Thomas Road or maybe left your Corolla or Hyundai Tucson out near Cambridge for the weekend, you might’ve spotted a pile of twigs, leaves or even a full-on bird’s nest tucked up close to the engine. Sounds odd, but it’s surprisingly common around Hamilton and out in Te Kowhai or even as far as Morrinsville – anywhere cars get left near trees, especially when the weather turns a bit cooler. Birds love the warmth and shelter under the bonnet, especially in winter when it’s foggy in the mornings or stinking hot in the summer. Doesn’t take them long either – sometimes literally overnight if you’re parked near heaps of bush, trees, or in a barn out Pukete way. Bet you never thought the engine bay of your Nissan Leaf or Peugeot 308 would be prime bird real estate, eh?
Why are Bird Nests in the Engine a Big Problem?
So here’s the deal – a bird’s nest under the bonnet is more than just a weird surprise. Once those birds get comfy, they’ll pack the area with dry stuff like straw, hay, old leaves, and even bits of rubbish. Now, engines get really hot, especially when you’re stuck in stop-start traffic around Avalon Drive or crawling over speed bumps in Nawton. If that nest is sitting close to your exhaust manifold or any hot bit of engine, one spark and – boom – you’ve got a fire risk. We’ve had folks bring in everything from Honda Fits to Mercedes-Benz A-Class with singe marks from nests that got too close.
This can be even worse for paddock cars and tractors out on the lifestyle blocks, but we’ve seen it heaps in regular runabouts here too. A nest fire can torch your pride and joy, your shopping, and even spread to the garage if you’re unlucky. Not worth the drama, trust me.
How to Stop Birds Nesting in Your Car?
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Check Under the Bonnet
This one’s a no-brainer. If your car’s sat a while, especially under trees or parked near bush out towards Rotokauri, have a quick peek under the bonnet for nests, hay, or odd bits of grass. Takes 30 seconds tops, and it can save you a heap of drama later. We had a customer with an Isuzu Mu-X who spotted a nest just hours before it could’ve caused damage – lucky!
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Use a Car Cover
A simple car cover can make a big difference, especially the flash silver ones that reflect. Birds can’t get comfy if they can’t access the good nesting spots. You also get the bonus of keeping all that Hamilton pollen, dust, and bird poop off the paint at the same time.
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Bird Decoys
Old-school but it works – putting out a fake owl or hawk decoy near where you park. Switch it around now and then so the birds don’t get wise. One of our techs reckons it worked a treat for their Toyota Estima out in Whatawhata.
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Hang Some CDs Up
You’ve probably seen this round the traps – hang up a few old CDs on string near the carport or where you park. Sun hits them, they spin, birds hate the glare. Not the prettiest, but cheap and effective. We see it all over Flagstaff, especially close to playgrounds and sports fields.
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Try a Sound Emitter
If you want to go a bit high-tech, a sound emitter can keep the birds away. It gives off a noise we can’t hear, but birds sure can. They’re not cheap but can be a good investment if you’re parking up for a few weeks or over Christmas.
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Use Strong Smells
Birds can’t stand strong smells. Stuff like peppermint oil or chilli flakes (check the details here) – dab it on a cotton ball and tuck it near likely nest spots under the bonnet. Simple and natural.
Seen a Bird’s Nest or Had a Fire Scare?
Look, bird nests in engines are a real thing here in Hamilton. Seen stories yourself online. Don’t let it wreck your car or weekend trip up to Raglan. Take a few precautions, especially if you park somewhere with lots of birds about.
And if you do spot a nest, or you’ve had any smoke or engine weirdness after parking for a bit, bring your Mazda Axela, Kia Carnival or whatever you drive into Grimmer Motors. Our team’s always happy to sort it out, check for damage, and get you back on the road safe as. We’re the locals for car service Hamilton, WOF checks, hybrid repair, or just a quick yarn if you’re worried about birds under the bonnet.