I have been bird dive-bombed at my hotel for two days in a row. This was weird as I had never had this happen before. A bird knocks me on top of my head but not a direct impact. It didn't leave any droppings and didn't hurt, although once almost knocked off glasses as my head moved violently. Readers probably know what this is about, but this is the first time I had this happen in the last 76 years since birth.
I asked the hotel reception gal, "Do birds have something against this hotel or us that get our cars from the parking lot? They hit me in two parts of the lot, one while I was waiting for an Uber to meet a friend downtown. I hate DT driving with traffic messes, messy freeways, and in front of my friend's home hard to find any parking. I have to parallel park, which I haven't done for maybe 20 years since I used to more suburban areas with off-street parking and driveways to park in at no cost, and I just find DT Toronto less challenging when I go by Uber. On Monday was waiting by a tree where the Uber would pull in to pick me up and was dive-bombed. Today (Tuesday), I was walking to my car and got bombed. I asked the front desk lady, "Do your birds resent customers parking here and are trying to scare us away? She said she has been diving bombed also, and it's because it's nesting season.
So nerdy Dave researched this trait of birds and highlighted below some of the article:
Why Is That Bird Dive-Bombing You?
You walk out your front door, minding your own business, when a bird swoops in for a flyby. Or there's a certain spot on your walk around the neighborhood: When you hit it, a bird zips by and dive-bombs your head.
Don't take it personally. It's not you; it's spring, a time when birds get very protective and territorial about their young. The bird isn't attacking; it's just trying to scare you away.
"It may seem like it's an offensive behavior, and some people might find it offensive, but it's actually a defensive behavior on the part of the bird. It's simply trying to persuade a potential predator away from the nest," says Bob Mulvihill, an ornithologist at the National Aviary.
Birds are most defensive when they have young in the nest, typically from the time they hatch until they fledge and leave the nest, Mulvihill says.
"In some cases, it may continue even until they fledge for a short time for a few days or a week. They aren't very strong fliers and aren't very capable to escape on their own from a predator."
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the dive-bombing behavior can be an effective scare tactic, although the birds are unlikely to hurt you.
"Flybys are the rule. I've personally heard about cases where people have been bumped, and the bird has actually made contact with a person, but it's risky for the bird to engage with anything that can turn around and swipe it or claw it," he says. "They don't want to go toe to toe with you."
Working as an ornithologist, Mulvihill has had a lot of birds dive-bomb him over the years, and he says he's never had one make physical contact. "It's all bluff. It works pretty well if you're afraid of them."
Mockingbirds are most known for their dive-bombing behavior, says Mulvihill. Swallows are also known to use the swooping scare tactic to keep people, dogs, cats, and other potential predators away from their nests.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service points out that many raptors also aren't afraid to make close brushes with humans during nesting season. Red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, Cooper's hawks, and peregrine falcons are likely to show more assertive behaviors when protecting their nests.
Some birds don't dive-bomb but use another type of behavior to protect their young, Mulvihill says. "They'll feign injury and drag a wing on the ground, limp along, call pitifully, limp ahead of you. When you're far enough away from the nest, they fly away," he says. "They do this little act to try to get you to look at her instead of the nest. It's an impressive distraction display."
What to do
If you have a nest near your house being guarded by a dive-bombing parent, the best thing to do is give the birds some room until the babies are gone.
"The nesting cycle is so short you can wait it out. It may be just two or three weeks," said Mulvihill. "They're not capable of inflicting any pain or harm, so notice it, be a little bit fascinated by the behavior, but ignore it. In most cases, it's not a threat to you."
You may want to use another entrance or avoid a certain part of your yard if you can. If you really are taken aback by the flybys and can't avoid the general vicinity, carry an umbrella or wear a hat.
"Birds are genetically hardwired to protect their investment ... which are baby birds."
Source Highlights from https://www.treehugger.com/why-bird-dive-bombing-you-4864118
I asked the hotel reception gal, "Do birds have something against this hotel or us that get our cars from the parking lot? They hit me in two parts of the lot, one while I was waiting for an Uber to meet a friend downtown. I hate DT driving with traffic messes, messy freeways, and in front of my friend's home hard to find any parking. I have to parallel park, which I haven't done for maybe 20 years since I used to more suburban areas with off-street parking and driveways to park in at no cost, and I just find DT Toronto less challenging when I go by Uber. On Monday was waiting by a tree where the Uber would pull in to pick me up and was dive-bombed. Today (Tuesday), I was walking to my car and got bombed. I asked the front desk lady, "Do your birds resent customers parking here and are trying to scare us away? She said she has been diving bombed also, and it's because it's nesting season.
So nerdy Dave researched this trait of birds and highlighted below some of the article:
Why Is That Bird Dive-Bombing You?
You walk out your front door, minding your own business, when a bird swoops in for a flyby. Or there's a certain spot on your walk around the neighborhood: When you hit it, a bird zips by and dive-bombs your head.
Don't take it personally. It's not you; it's spring, a time when birds get very protective and territorial about their young. The bird isn't attacking; it's just trying to scare you away.
"It may seem like it's an offensive behavior, and some people might find it offensive, but it's actually a defensive behavior on the part of the bird. It's simply trying to persuade a potential predator away from the nest," says Bob Mulvihill, an ornithologist at the National Aviary.
Birds are most defensive when they have young in the nest, typically from the time they hatch until they fledge and leave the nest, Mulvihill says.
"In some cases, it may continue even until they fledge for a short time for a few days or a week. They aren't very strong fliers and aren't very capable to escape on their own from a predator."
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the dive-bombing behavior can be an effective scare tactic, although the birds are unlikely to hurt you.
"Flybys are the rule. I've personally heard about cases where people have been bumped, and the bird has actually made contact with a person, but it's risky for the bird to engage with anything that can turn around and swipe it or claw it," he says. "They don't want to go toe to toe with you."
Working as an ornithologist, Mulvihill has had a lot of birds dive-bomb him over the years, and he says he's never had one make physical contact. "It's all bluff. It works pretty well if you're afraid of them."
Mockingbirds are most known for their dive-bombing behavior, says Mulvihill. Swallows are also known to use the swooping scare tactic to keep people, dogs, cats, and other potential predators away from their nests.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service points out that many raptors also aren't afraid to make close brushes with humans during nesting season. Red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, Cooper's hawks, and peregrine falcons are likely to show more assertive behaviors when protecting their nests.
Some birds don't dive-bomb but use another type of behavior to protect their young, Mulvihill says. "They'll feign injury and drag a wing on the ground, limp along, call pitifully, limp ahead of you. When you're far enough away from the nest, they fly away," he says. "They do this little act to try to get you to look at her instead of the nest. It's an impressive distraction display."
What to do
If you have a nest near your house being guarded by a dive-bombing parent, the best thing to do is give the birds some room until the babies are gone.
"The nesting cycle is so short you can wait it out. It may be just two or three weeks," said Mulvihill. "They're not capable of inflicting any pain or harm, so notice it, be a little bit fascinated by the behavior, but ignore it. In most cases, it's not a threat to you."
You may want to use another entrance or avoid a certain part of your yard if you can. If you really are taken aback by the flybys and can't avoid the general vicinity, carry an umbrella or wear a hat.
"Birds are genetically hardwired to protect their investment ... which are baby birds."
Source Highlights from https://www.treehugger.com/why-bird-dive-bombing-you-4864118
