Bird nests in the air filter

[Brains]

Mercedes Sprinter based Hymer MLT 570.
Parked at Woolmans Wood storage near Rochester airport.
Lots of other motorhomes all around, and I'm in the middle, so furthest from the trees.
Yes every spring we are having to dismantle the air filter and remove yet another birds nest

Bird nest one, March 24 (judging by the size, maybe more than one season ?)

Bird nest Two - April 2024

Bird nest 3 was March 2026 (No photos)

And I've just cleaned out Birds nest number 4 - May 2026

Anyone else have this problem ?
What was your solution ?

 

[DavidG58]

Is it definitely a bird, my first fear would be rodent unless you found a bowl and maybe eggs

 

[manners]

Put a bung in the intake pipe while it's in storage?

 

[Brains]

Is it definitely a bird, my first fear would be rodent unless you found a bowl and maybe eggs

We found (broken) eggs, so it could be a duck billed platypus.
But we think it's something small like a Robin

 

[Figaro]

I agree with David, that doesn't look like a typical birds nest, more like a mouse residence ?

 

[Brains]

Put a bung in the intake pipe while it's in storage?

Very difficult to do, and they managed to bypass a sponge stuffed up the intake.

 

[Nanniemate]

Very difficult to do, and they managed to bypass a sponge stuffed up the intake.

That don't sound like a bird sorry

 

[captainPaul]

You know you need one lol

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[Cowpat]

Mercedes Sprinter based Hymer MLT 570.
Parked at Woolmans Wood storage near Rochester airport.
Lots of other motorhomes all around, and I'm in the middle, so furthest from the trees.
Yes every spring we are having to dismantle the air filter and remove yet another birds nest

Bird nest one, March 24 (judging by the size, maybe more than one season ?)

View attachment 1216255

Bird nest Two - April 2024

View attachment 1216256

Bird nest 3 was March 2026 (No photos)

And I've just cleaned out Birds nest number 4 - May 2026

View attachment 1216257

Anyone else have this problem ?
What was your solution ?

I don’t think they’re birds nests they look more like rodent nests. How are they getting in I’m sure a bird wouldn’t be able to get in there

 

[Shrimp]

If it was a bird with small eggshell could be a Wren.
A mouse or rat will eat bird eggs so that could be where the eggshell is coming from!
A bird may have a problem getting in/out but a rodent would manage it well.
I would stop-up the entrance whilst in storage.

 

[buzz1]

I’d be surprised if that a bird nest , rodent taking eggs to nest .
There’s no shape to it ,
Look for droppings .
I had mouse in my air filter on Fiat Ducato box .

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Can you put some wire wool in the hole. Rodents wont chew that

 

[Brains]

Can you put some wire wool in the hole. Rodents wont chew that

I bought a sheet of the aluminium grating they use as car dent body filler.
The intention is to put it over the air intake and keep it in place with cable ties.

The problem is access.
I think a need to remove the entire front grill, which is not an easy job.
I'll have to find a You Tube video and see how it's done.

 

[vanphil]

I have just visited a German Mercedes commercial service centre after the warning light came on indicating a fault with the air filter. The van was at time’s running a bit rough but no loss of power. On opening the air filter box they found it crammed with grass and straw. The air filter was undamged and after a thorough hoovering out all was well. They couldn’t believe that the van could still run as it must have been starved of air.
At home I park next to a wood and will be putting a metal grill over the inlet pipe as soon as I get back.

 

[Brains]

I have just visited a German Mercedes commercial service centre after the warning light came on indicating a fault with the air filter. The van was at time’s running a bit rough but no loss of power. On opening the air filter box they found it crammed with grass and straw. The air filter was undamged and after a thorough hoovering out all was well. They couldn’t believe that the van could still run as it must have been starved of air.
At home I park next to a wood and will be putting a metal grill over the inlet pipe as soon as I get back.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one!

This is what I have bought to put over the Mercedes Sprinter air intake to stop birds nesting

 

[Antl]

Interesting, however, my van has been in use for weeks.

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[Brains]

Interesting, however, my van has been in use for weeks.

A pair of birds can build a nest in 24hrs

It will take you 5 mins to remove the cover on the air filter (7 screws and undo the jubilee clip)
Lift up the filter and look underneath
5 mins to put it back together

Do a search on YouTube, several videos show you how to do it, I'm not mechanical at all, but now do this job at least once a year

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

It's nice to know I'm not the only one!

This is what I have bought to put over the Mercedes Sprinter air intake to stop birds nesting

I'd have gone stainless mesh if you can find some, that'll stop them, like concrete, it needs glass adding to it to stop them gnawing through it.

 

[Lenny HB]

This is what I have bought to put over the Mercedes Sprinter air intake to stop birds nesting

You can't leave a mesh on when using the van it will restrict the airflow far too much.

 

[buzz1]

Just lay mouse traps set around van during colder months ,

 

[Googlebot]

You can't leave a mesh on when using the van it will restrict the airflow far too much.

I second this, they are so picky about airflow you will likely put it in limp mode.

 

[gus-lopez]

The intention is to put it over the air intake and keep it in place with cable ties.

They'll eat the cable ties.needs wire.