u/trustedandtwisted

Re: Water/Sewer Line Protection Program

I got another letter in the mail from the water company since I moved to this state, basically wanting me to enroll and pay them for their Water Line and Sewer Line Protection Program. This is about the fourth letter I've gotten since I moved into a house here back in December.

My question to all of you is, is this just a money grab? I feel like they're trying to get more money with their offered program.

Have any of you that have enrolled in this program actually needed it? My house was built in '89, so it's not that outdated, I would think. Thoughts?

What is going on with hitting birds lately?

​Has anyone else experienced a sudden, bizarre spike in bird strikes? I’m looking for some perspective or shared experiences, because the last two months have been incredibly frustrating and has me questioning what's going on?!

​For some context, I drive a 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid in Urban Grey. I’ve owned it since 2023 and haven't hit a single animal in the time I’ve had it. Before this, my only history was a deer incident over 20 years ago. However, in the last 60 days, I have hit—or rather, birds have flown into—my vehicle five separate times. The worst was a crow that actually damaged the black trim accent on one of my headlights.

​I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out why this is happening. Is there any logic to this, or is it just a weird run of bad luck?

I’ve considered a few theories:

​The Hybrid Factor: Is the vehicle too quiet? I’m wondering if the lack of traditional engine noise means birds aren’t getting the usual auditory warning to get out of the way.

​The Color: Is Urban Grey particularly difficult for birds to perceive or avoid at certain times of day?

​Coincidence vs. Pattern: Could this just be a string of statistical anomalies, or is there something about my driving routes or seasonal bird patterns I'm missing?

​Something Else: I’m almost at the point of wondering if the universe is trying to send me some kind of message.

​Has anyone else noticed an increase in collisions with their hybrid or grey-colored vehicles? Any advice on how to mitigate this (if it's even possible) would be greatly appreciated. I’d love to know if I’m losing my mind or if this is a known phenomenon.