Tree Spikes to Prevent Bird Poop on Cars Creates Public Uproar in the U.K.

The birds in Bristol's upscale areas won't be chirping for joy these days. Because now, even perching for a quick stop on one of its "spiky" branches could potentially rip their insides apart.

So it seems Vlad the Impaler has risen from the dead to inspire havoc among these feathered nomads.

And the reason for these acts of avian violence? Car parking--specifically for Audis and BMWs.

Who's to Blame?

Some students within the posh Bristol area have added anti-bird spikes on two neighborhood tress to avoid getting their Audis and BMWs from getting bird poop.

Upon further investigation, it's revealed that the Clifton residents of Essendene House and Heathfield House were the ones who nailed the bird spikes on the two trees that overhang their car park.

“The spikes are solely to protect the cars, there is no other reason,” said an anonymous resident to the Bristol Post. “There is a big problem with bird droppings around here. They can really make a mess of cars, and for some reason they [the birds> do seem to congregate around this area.”

The Case of Anti-Bird Spikes

Anti-bird spics are used to prevent birds from landing on gutters, building ledges, and windowsills.

Environmentalists, however, think that putting up spikes on these branches are uncalled for--since trees are natural habitats that birds perch on. Naturalists argue that using spikes to prevent birds from using them is selfish and inconsiderate.

Green Party politician Paula O’Rourke told the Bristol Post: “I’m aware that the landowner might be legally within their rights to do this to the trees as they seem to be on private land,” she said.

“Whether allowed or not though, it looks awful and it’s a shame to see trees being literally made uninhabitable to birds presumably for the sake of car parking.”

Anti-Bird Spike Advocates Speak Up

A resident of the flats, however, said that the birds have a lot of trees to nest at. But critics still argue that birds should not be driven out of their natural habitat because of man-made interventions.

That's not  to say that  they don't have supporters. There are those whose “sympathy lies with the car-owners” rather than the birds--and bird poop.

A nearby local said: “We are overhung by a neighbor's tree where pigeons congregate and their poo lands on a side of our terrace,” she said.

“It sets like cement and my other half regularly has to spend hours throughout the year, with a high pressure hose, long-handled scrapper and muscle to get rid of it, and it still leaves marks.

“It looks disgusting and I also do wonder about the health implications to children playing in the garden.

“I can appreciate that it would be almost impossible to get the mess off of a vehicle without damaging it.”

There are also those who think that bird poop isn't an important issue to focus on.

For instance, BornInNailsea posted in Twitter:

“Outrage - seriously? There are plenty of more pressing/expensive matters that we need to see progressed to turn Bristol into a well-run city.”