Suggestions for deterring birds

WearyTraveler

Ever since we started parking the RV in the yard, cardinals (mostly) have decided to use the slides as their personal toilets.  They tap and crap on the windows constantly.  I can’t use the shotgun or .22 as I don’t want to damage the vehicle (but let me catch one on a limb!).
I’ve seen ads for tinsel and those fake owls.

Right now it’s sitting in the open.  We’ll be installing a carport with open sides in the near future.
What have you done to deter birds?  What works and what doesn’t?
Thanks!

Rocky Raab

Full cover tarp, same as for boat protection.

jimdeere

No tarp over a camper! It will cause moisture problems. They used to roost on my grandson’s car mirror and crap on it. I smeared Vick’s Vaporub on the mirror and they stopped.

bullshot

The birds were there before the camper ................... don't be killing Cardinals, all you will do is take a few beautiful creatures off of the earth.

Try anything and everything before killing the birds.

William81

The black birds swarm up around out place from time to time......firecrackers always work for me...Nothing gets hurt and they go away...

Chief Shaway

I've good luck with a plastic owl on our porch. 
The neighbor uses rubber snakes. 

nmyers

.22 birdshot will do it.  When they get destructive, they are no longer "birds", but "pests". 

Neal

yoshmyster

Air Soft. Has enough pep and quiet.

MrMag00

I have one of the electric deterrent sonic devices that seems to work well. In this hot weather, the birds all came on the porch and were pooping on everything. Prickly pear cactus poop. Red and full of seeds, just miserable birds. I put the sonic deterrent on the porch and they have all but disappeared.  

Firecrackers, loud sharp noise works in the moment, but if you stay with it long enough, they do get the message. 


The neighbor was throwing scraps out and the starlings, crows and ratbirds started to gather by the hundreds. I got up early (feeding time) and started doing my metal work, grinding in particular, and that drove them away, and also, stopped the feeding.  

I don't know if cayenne pepper would work. Works for most critters. Hairspray, perfume and after-shave will work according to online search. Maybe get a bug sprayer and fill it with aftershave and hose the camper. 

Pie tins on a string works for some birds, the triangular spinning wind vane type seem to do well. 

Rocky Raab

Lots of people here tarp their RVs without trouble, but we're so dry maybe that's the difference.

Wild Turkey

cover the windows with something non-reflective.  They think there's another bird and are trying to defend their territory.
I've had one knocking on my office window when the sun was right to create a reflection.

bustedknee

I used Roost-No-Mor with great success to keep birds off Navigational Aids.

I suspect these are the same:

Smitty500mag

You can go over to the RV.net forum and find out what covers work the best. They make some good covers that won't cause damage but they are a bit pricey. There's a lot of good people over there that can answer any RV question you might have and they're friendly.