zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO

Today a friend and i ventured out into the cold to visit a local lake and harass
The wildlife.
He has expressed interest in purchasing a Tamron 150-600g2, so i let him borrow mine. He had it maybe 2 minutes before i hear a squeal, he literally squealed. I of course inquired about this, he shows me the end of my lens, right smak in the middle of my front glass is a good sized splat of bird crap. I informed him there was a cleaning kit in my bag and to please clean the lens. He retreated to the van. After he did not return i went back and found him in the front seat with a rather panicked look on his face.
I have no idea what that bird had for breakfast but it stripped the coating off the glass. He was really freaking about it, thinking he now owed me a lens. I unscrewed the uv filter and handed it to him.
Not sure if this has ever happened before, to anyone, Ever, be interested to know.
So anyway, theres another pro for using clear or uv filters for protective purposes.
He is going to send me the shots he was taking at the time, might be able to see the incoming.
Be safe all.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Drip Dry McFleye

Great story! By the way, it's a fact that bird poop actually can be pretty caustic.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Many (many) years ago when shooting wedding photos in a scenic park I had an almost identical experience.
I was using a LeicaM3 with a 135mm fixed lens (I had 2 M3's, one with a 50mm and this one with the 135mm. No zooms back then.) I was using the 135mm for head and shoulder pics of the bride and groom when I got a splat, but mine was all over me, the camera and the lens.
The bride and groom thought it was hilarious and good luck (well good luck for them perhaps anyway), but must admit it put me off my stride.
That was nearly 50 years ago but I still remember it when I see something like this mentioned.

The camera and the lens survived without damage. I'm not sure about me but I still have both the camera and the lens.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Personally, that is why I always use a LENS HOOD. You should try it.

ZtaKED Loc: Lakes Region, New Hampshire & NE Florida

I use a lens hood and UV on my lenses. Call it belt and suspenders but last week my dog’s leash came across the front of my lens and left a scuff mark on the UV, even with the lens hood. The hood survived with no issues. Next day delivery got me a new UV and back in business.

gwcole

It was not a camera but a three-year-old car. I had a mulberry tree 30 feet from where I parked the car. A bird splat ate the paint down to bare metal. I fixed the problem with a chain saw.

tomcat

Yep. Full of uric acid. Will also remove paint from your car

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

That story is great, gave me two good, knee slapping laughs for the day. I will add, I can understand your friend's dismay at the lens coating removal. Bet he's glad it didn't land on him.

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

A hawk once flew through a window into our summer cottage and left droppings in several places on the floor. When I cleaned up the messes the varnish came off the floor along with the bird's droppings. Good thing you had a filter on the lens.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

A surprising reason for a filter

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Not from personal experience, but I heard from a chicken farmer that after 50 years, the nails holding the chicken barn together will have been dissolved.

RPaul3rd Loc: Arlington VA and Sarasota FL

Bird poo is not only messy and difficult to remove completely, but it is acidic which is why it stripped the coating. Every lens I have has a protective filter on it. Good things your lens had one.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

A better reason for a lens hood, which the OP did not have on.

HiFromSusan

And if you think a UV filter will make you lose light, then a high-quality clear glass filter will work very well. Got mine from Precision Camera. This in addition to the lens hood. Can't be too careful with this expensive glass!