I evicted two freeloaders moving into in my garage today!

[W0QNX]

OK well the title is clickbait but here you are.

I posted a pic last year with this same problem but I can't find that post. Once again two GIANT birds, (sparrows I think) have just swooped right in and tried to turn my helmet into a home. They did a pretty good job of getting a lot of dirt in the helmet along with some sticks and grass.

I've been seeing them swoop in and out for a few days but I couldn't see where they were landing. Found it. Removed them. I guess I'll keep the garage door down for a while and hope they pick nice tree nearby.

 

[Gerhard]

I had starlings try to make our bbq into their home about 15 years ago, I destroyed the nest a number of times before they gave up on taking over the bbq.

 

[the Ferret]

OK well the title is clickbait but here you are.

I posted a pic last year with this same problem but I can't find that post. Once again two GIANT birds, (sparrows I think) have just swooped right in and tried to turn my helmet into a home. They did a pretty good job of getting a lot of dirt in the helmet along with some sticks and grass.

I've been seeing them swoop in and out for a few days but I couldn't see where they were landing. Found it. Removed them. I guess I'll keep the garage door down for a while and hope they pick nice tree nearby.

Probably Wrens as this is their time of the year to make nests and they dont mind going in people's garages.

 

[ardykay54]

OK well the title is clickbait but here you are.

I posted a pic last year with this same problem but I can't find that post. Once again two GIANT birds, (sparrows I think) have just swooped right in and tried to turn my helmet into a home. They did a pretty good job of getting a lot of dirt in the helmet along with some sticks and grass.

I've been seeing them swoop in and out for a few days but I couldn't see where they were landing. Found it. Removed them. I guess I'll keep the garage door down for a while and hope they pick nice tree nearby.

Birds.....okay....I guess you didn't see me over the winter months!.....That was dumb....now you'll be looking for me next winter!! Russ.

 

[Obo]

I had starlings try to make our bbq into their home about 15 years ago, I destroyed the nest a number of times before they gave up on taking over the bbq.

Why am I craving bbq'd chicken right now??

 

[aldntn]

Wrens love helmets.

 

[rjs987]

One reason I never set my helmet open side up when storing it. If I hang it on my bike the open side is directly next to the bike and still not facing up. (I've personally seen boneheaded shoppers walk past a motorcycle, not mine, in the store parking lot and drop garbage in a helmet hanging open side up on the side of the bike... usually a Harley).

 

[Road Slug]

You should let them nest in an old helmet so they can leave your good one alone.

 

[SMSW]

With the price of eggs, I'd think you would have thought twice before taking action....

Would you prefer rodents? Birds don't usually chew on the wiring harness. You could have made fresh birds nest soup....

Did you ask @Igofar to lend you one of his critter dispatchers? He could have mailed you one.

 

[SMSW]

Probably Wrens as this is their time of the year to make nests and they dont mind going in people's garages.

Women's Royal Naval Service?

 

[ST1100Y]

Who stores his lids like this?!

Me, always open side down on a soft towel/rag, keep face-shield open over night for drying out... put the OEM helmet-bag/liner over it for off-season storage to keep it dust free...
(bloody Neotec costs € 700,-, plus € 210,- for the Sena SLRII... )

 

[W0QNX]

Who stores his lids like this?!

Me, always open side down on a soft towel/rag, keep face-shield open over night for drying out... put the OEM helmet-bag/liner over it for off-season storage to keep it dust free...
(bloody Neotec costs € 700,-, plus € 210,- for the Sena SLRII... )

Bless you heart for all the great advice. It sounds like your "off-season" has been too long for you.

I used to lay my bloody lid on a shelf here at home but ever since that time when the 3,000 ants crawled into the bloody lid I hang it on a hook. Florida problems (but there is no off-season here). (HJC C91 only cost about $175, I use a lot of hand signals to communicate and there aren't many I want to hear from when I'm riding so about $0.35 for the ear plugs. )

Should I lay it on the bike seat when out on trips?

 

[Grand Rouge]

My C91 has a part time bird deterrent. Stache works for food and sleep

 

[motornut]

Bad enough they move in as guests, but do they have to bring the whole family and stay till the kids are grown?

 

[Chris09]

At least you got good company, all I get are mice and rats. Those HJC helmets that used to cost $175.00 are now about $400.00 Maybe that's got more to do with how long I've had mine.
[edit] $400.00 Canadian

 

[Ames1283]

I'm just jealous of the year round riding. I still park mine for a few months here in Alabama. I guess there are worse problems to have, LOL.

 

[Malks]

My helmet lives inside my top box when I'm not riding. That's the main reason I bought the box in the first place. I even put it in the protective cloth bag it came in for additional protection from dust and scratches. I would never just leave it on an open shelf in the garage for the reasons pictured above.

Whenever I stop while out for a ride, the helmet goes into the top box. With the price of helmets and the legal requirement to wear it while riding, I simply cannot understand why anyone would risk theft or damage by leaving their helmet out in the open and unattended.

 

[W0QNX]

My helmet lives inside my top box when I'm not riding. That's the main reason I bought the box in the first place. I even put it in the protective cloth bag it came in for additional protection from dust and scratches. I would never just leave it on an open shelf in the garage for the reasons pictured above.

Whenever I stop while out for a ride, the helmet goes into the top box. With the price of helmets and the legal requirement to wear it while riding, I simply cannot understand why anyone would risk theft or damage by leaving their helmet out in the open and unattended.

So put my sweaty helmet inside an airtight box and let it mildew here in Florida when I'm home?

When I stop while out on a ride about half the time my bike trunk is full of camping gear or clothing. Where should I put all the stuff that rides in the trunk when I stop?

 

[core-aggie]

We've been bird invaded too. They have very interesting behavior! I have two examples below.

The birds doing this, obviously feel safe and comfortable doing this - been doing it for over four years. Granted, I open the garage at sunrise and close it after sunset.

The first example, never caught my attention initially. It's a weed wacker that's rarely used. it is sitting upside down , just to the right of the door (inside garage) entry to the house. Notice the needles sticking out of it? The second photo is a close up of the newly hatched babies, waiting for food.

The second example (3rd photo) is a nest inside the spare tire (rim) of the Jeep - the spare that sits on the back of a Jeep. Granted, that Jeep sits around, not driven much. Check photo #4 ... you will also see two creatures who blend in with the Jeep.

 

[Malks]

So put my sweaty helmet inside an airtight box and let it mildew here in Florida when I'm home?

My top box is hardly airtight. However, it does keep the rain off my helmet while it's in there and also provides some security for it because it's out of sight. The weather in Canada is slightly cooler and generally less humid than Florida, so I don't have the same mildew concerns when storing my helmet that you might have.