Bird Strike

dogbeard · 03-20-2010, 01:36 AM

Greetings all,

New forum member and new Nismo owner (2010 #0053 Platinum Gray) here, I've had the car for just over a month now and am loving it.

Had a weird thing happen today driving on one of my favorite back roads -- took a bird to the radiator when a pair of robins flew down into my path and one didn't get out of the way in time to avoid being hit and it was too close for me to slow up in time.

When I got home I shined a flashlight in to take a look at the radiator and I could see some bent fins, and sadly a feather stuck to the fins as well. Popped out the air filters and the left one had a couple more feathers; not a good sign.

I had a sinking feeling when I realized there is nowhere the bird could have fallen out, and I couldn't see down into the lower area below the radiator. So, I put on my work gloves and started feeling around in there and sure enough I found the poor little deceased aviator.

Anyhow, pretty weird; anybody else scoop up any wildlife in the nose of their Z?

ejrives · 03-20-2010, 01:58 AM

wow, did it damage your car at all besides the radiator fins? I've not had any bird strikage issues. rep for reaching in and finding the carcass

dogbeard · 03-20-2010, 02:05 AM

Nope, no other damage, at least none that I could see, although like I said, it's really hard to see in there.

Based on my extensive viewing of various myth busters episodes relating to things at high velocity bouncing off of other things, I have a feeling that most of the energy of the impact dissipated when it hit the radiator and I suspect it just fell downward at that point, but even if it bounced at all it couldn't have been carrying much speed. I was worried it may have gotten sucked up into the air intake but it was just a couple of feathers in the filter and nothing more.

Zaggeron · 03-21-2010, 01:01 AM

I bet I got plenty of moth guts, but no feathers yet. Hehe. Congrats on the new Nismo!

03-20-2010, 01:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
dogbeard Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 4 Drives: 2010 370Z Nismo PG Rep Power: 15	Bird Strike Greetings all, New forum member and new Nismo owner (2010 #0053 Platinum Gray) here, I've had the car for just over a month now and am loving it. Had a weird thing happen today driving on one of my favorite back roads -- took a bird to the radiator when a pair of robins flew down into my path and one didn't get out of the way in time to avoid being hit and it was too close for me to slow up in time. When I got home I shined a flashlight in to take a look at the radiator and I could see some bent fins, and sadly a feather stuck to the fins as well. Popped out the air filters and the left one had a couple more feathers; not a good sign. I had a sinking feeling when I realized there is nowhere the bird could have fallen out, and I couldn't see down into the lower area below the radiator. So, I put on my work gloves and started feeling around in there and sure enough I found the poor little deceased aviator. Anyhow, pretty weird; anybody else scoop up any wildlife in the nose of their Z?

03-20-2010, 01:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
ejrives A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,449 Drives: 09-6MT-T/S/N Rep Power: 18	wow, did it damage your car at all besides the radiator fins? I've not had any bird strikage issues. rep for reaching in and finding the carcass __________________ "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Stillen G3 CAI \|\| 35% tints \|\| FI CBE coming soon...

03-21-2010, 01:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Zaggeron A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,951 Drives: '10 370ZR '13 BRZ Rep Power: 18	I bet I got plenty of moth guts, but no feathers yet. Hehe. Congrats on the new Nismo! __________________ 2010 Platinum Graphite 370z Roadster:Touring/Sport 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited

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03-20-2010, 02:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
dogbeard Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 4 Drives: 2010 370Z Nismo PG Rep Power: 15	Nope, no other damage, at least none that I could see, although like I said, it's really hard to see in there. Based on my extensive viewing of various myth busters episodes relating to things at high velocity bouncing off of other things, I have a feeling that most of the energy of the impact dissipated when it hit the radiator and I suspect it just fell downward at that point, but even if it bounced at all it couldn't have been carrying much speed. I was worried it may have gotten sucked up into the air intake but it was just a couple of feathers in the filter and nothing more.