Association Forum - Birds, BIRDS, BIRDS!!!!!

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Birds, BIRDS, BIRDS!!!!!

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

bakbone
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
24 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/06/2006 : 14:51:17

Here's one for everyone. What is the best way to keep birds (especially sea gulls - even though I'm land locked, they're still around!) from using your hole in the water as an outdoor pivy? Any assistance would be GREATLY appreicated!

Bruce - Frustrated and desperate in Oklahoma!

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 14:56:49

Been there done that. Hadda move boat further from shore. Mostly bothered by Starlings. What I have found that works best for me is old CD discs hung in a few places. I hang one on forestay, one on boom, and sometimes between the shrouds. Been relatively poop free since doing that. But once they decide your mast is a roost you have problems. I see some people using the flashing ribbons that you can buy for your garden. Then there are fake owls, snakes, rats & alligators....but I don't think they work very well.

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 15:07:08

Flashy things (e.g., CDs, mylar ribbons, twirly gigs) definitely seem to work the best, since shotgun pellets tend to reduce the life of the standing rigging.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 15:14:56

rubber snakes and plastic owls - move them around. Dental floss rigged under the docks where they tend to fly and we don't tend to walk works too and it isn't unsightly - you can barely even see it.

Edited by - on

Downbucket
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 15:34:40

Hi Bruce:

You might try hanging a string of pennants from the shrouds. I don't have any personal experience with this but I have seen boats use it and I've also read about it. West Marine sells a 50' string of pennants for $15.99 (Model No. 183640). Whatever you do, please let us know the result.

Nothing worse than "guano."

Good Luck.

Will

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 16:29:25

My worst problem was gulls (sea-rats) lounging and dumping on the mains'l cover. I fixed that by rigging a small line from the top of the cover's collar at the mast, back to the end of the cover, so that it hangs just above the cover for its full length. (You can leave it permanently tied to the cover.) Worked like a charm. Similarly, a small line (even monofilament) from the spreader tips to a point just above the spreaders on the mast should keep them off the spreaders. You might be able to use the steaming light to position it at the mast.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/06/2006 20:21:55

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 19:10:49

I did the cd thing, have a couple hanging around. Seems to have worked.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 22:13:39

<center>Seagulls, sailboat rigging, and what worked for me.</center>
I arranged stainless steel safety wire 'fences' along the top of the spreader bars and on the masthead fitting very similar to what Dave Bristle suggested. I even built a cute little guardrail an inch or two high around the top of the anchor light, and added a wire along the top of the windvane.

I've heard of others having good results similar to what Dave reported by using a string with optional AOL CDs along the top of the mainsail cover. Although in one case, it took a few tries to position the sail cover line on an anchored boat so it would sufficiently inconvenience a determined Osprey.

One deterrent that's really hard to beat, is a cat! All birds have an uncanny ability to sense the presence of a feline, and will find somewhere else to relax.

Coincidentally, I had a perfect opportunity to scientifically test my bird deterrents. There was a Parker-Dawson 26 which took no special precautions in the slip next to my boat. It was whitewashed! The Ospreys even left half eaten dead fish on it. Meanwhile, not a spot on my C-25. (Both boats were equally accessible to the local cats.)

It's been my observation more boat owners than birds are tricked by the fake owls and snakes.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

bakbone
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 06:43:19

The CD's I'll for sure give a try. It'll probably sound like music in the air though! If it'll keep those sea-rats (as Dave calls them) off and away from her, my Captain and I will be very pleased. However, after yesterdays 40 - 50 mph winds we had (almost a typical sailing day in Oklahoma), I don't think they had any chance to land or fly to create any problem. In regards to the dental floss as Duane mentioned, I don't think my dentist will issue the amount I'd need to clean all of there teeth (do they even have any?)? Question about that though, is it strung tight or allowed to just flap in the breeze?

The extra barb wire on the shrouds and spreader bars will definately be a worth while look into as well. If I can find a cat Leon that won't get sea sick or mind living on a pier, I'll hire him!

Great suggestions though from everyone and we'll most definately be doing some experiments and tests to truely determine which of these methods truely is the best! Thanks you'all!

Bruce

Edited by - on

Charlie Vick
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 09:42:40

String together a used tire breakwater and let them roost there!
We too have and abundance of gulls at Tenkiller but they've never bothered my boat.
They're just nasty!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 10:03:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Leon Sisson
 It's been my observation more boat owners than birds are tricked by the fake owls and snakes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
A friend has a picture he took of a sea rat sitting right next to a plastic owl...

My worst experience with them: I was carrying my brand new mega-buck interior cushions from the boat to the car at the end of a season, when a sea rat, sitting on a piling, arched a big white stream right onto the cushion (and my jacket). I wished I had a 9mm on me right then!

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 14:00:52

I have tried lots of ideas and the SS wire like Leon is the one that works pretty good for me, I did add a string of cut pieces of shroud cover so that they turn. We have swallows which can cover a boat in one day and when the berries rippen very hard the clean off. I'm going to work on the lights and life lines for this season so good for the forum to get me started.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 14:00:56

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 14:00:56

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 14:01:17

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 15:02:30

I don't know if this works on seagulls, but the mylar streamers (red on one side, silver on the other) have been quite effective for the barn swallows that used to nest in my sail. I've got them on the back stay and upper shrouds. They work well as telltales too!

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 08:46:15

Frank, Master on DRAGO, was having a problem with cormorants and tried many of the solutions suggested here. They were way up top on his boat and didn't respond as expected(hoped for. Then one evening the gang dockside noticed Frank with a long box marked fluorescent tubes heading towards his boat. Some chided him for using onshore lighting on his boat. Frank didn't reply. He just went below and stayed there.

We noticed that he didn't have a problem with birds any longer, and some asked how fluorescent tubes shooed away birds and he chuckled, admitting that there weren't any tubes in the box.

I guessed a 22 with birdshot rid him of the birds.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

raulpou
Navigator

Members Avatar

144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 09:23:55

I was just about to suggest shooting them. Ideas found on this post, while good, lack the sense of fullfillment that a pellet gun can bring!

Edited by - on

raulpou
Navigator

Members Avatar

144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 09:24:36

For all of you P.E.T.A. members, I was just kidding

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 14:37:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by raulpou
 I was just about to suggest shooting them. Ideas found on this post, while good, lack the sense of fullfillment that a pellet gun can bring!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I think I mentioned a 9mm--that would've been even more "fulfilling" than a pellet gun! Maybe with hollow-noses, to boot! (Then I'd have to hose down a few neighboring boats.)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/08/2006 14:39:37

PZell
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 11:37:44

Every year our harbor master issues a statement to the effect to not bother the little birdies if they use your mainsail cover for a nesting ground. I say leave it to Darwin.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 14:51:22

How 'bout when a Canada Goose nests on your bimini?? A friend (stinkpotter) had that happen--four huge eggs, one of which rolled off onto his deck (big splat!) and dried for a few days... Momma Goose wouldn't give up on the others till my friend started to motor out of the marina--she finally jumped ship, and he flipped the other eggs into the drink. Kinda sad, but whatcha gonna do?

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 16:11:30

PETA

People Eating Tasty Animals

Edited by - on

raulpou
Navigator

Members Avatar

144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 16:30:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by StSimon
 PETA

People Eating Tasty Animals
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Funnny!!!!

Edited by - on

SJ
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2006 : 12:38:26

This is what I have on my boat, and I've been seagull free for 3 years on Long Island Sound (Home of the messy seagulls and cormorants)

I installed an eye strap approx 3 inchs above the spreader on the side of the mast(both sides). To that I tie fishing line straight accross to the upper shroud, the two more at increasing angles. The top one is about 18 inches above the spreader. Birds can't land on the spreader to expel any ariel bombs! Also i have a few pointy spiky thing on the masthead...Hurts when they sit!

Edited by - on

bakbone
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2006 : 07:45:05

Thanks for all the suggestions (and the puns!) I most definately will be trying some of them out starting this weekend where we will be having a pleasant 90 degrees with mild 20 - 30 mph winds (great for coming about!). Yu'all are great!

Bruce

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.