John Davenport sent the following letter
(response sent from mail@cartalk.com).
RE: Birds and Cars (1/16/97 call about car color and bird bombings)
I actually experienced an attack by a great grey heron on October 13, 1997, traveling north on Route 194 about six miles north of East Berlin, PA, and exactly the spot where I have been nailed twice for speeding by the Pennsylvania state police.
It was early morning and I spotted this beautiful heron 600 yards ahead flying slowly from east to west at an altitude of 250 feet. I was traveling at exactly 48 mph. As I watched, I noted the appearance of a gray plume attached to the bird, which slowly separated (just like those slow-motion views from the bomb bays of B-52s during the Vietnam Christmas bombings) and established a trajectory that looked like a perfect intersection with my path.
I couldn't believe it. There is no question in my mind that I was a target. In one of my many attempts to pass a bare-boat sailing course, I was taught that if you line up another boat that will cross your path with a spot on the rail, and if the boat continues to line up at that same spot, then that's the spot where the sucker will soon hit you. Applying similar techniques, I closed the sun roof and held my course.
The bird crossed the road just as I crossed the bird’s path, and a couple of seconds later, splat, splat, splat--a perfect hit on my windshield, bike rack, and sun roof. High above I'm sure the heron said, "Yes!"
Maybe this is genetic. What other weapons would a bird have to divert the lead buffalo heading for its nesting site?
My car was a dark green ‘95 Honda Accord, but the wind on the roof rack and the patterning behavior resulting from repeated attacks on the white state police cruiser, also with roof appendages, were the attractions for the birds.
I say, what the hell. You've got to admire the performance of a fine athlete.
