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Bird Poop!

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/20/2011 : 17:32:37

OK, I am getting tired of washing off bird poop all the time from birds that roost on the spreaders.

I have rigged tin pie plates on strings and hoisted them into the rigging during the seasons where the starlings darken the sky, and that works, but it does make the boat look a bit odd.....

I was thinking I would rig a taut line of #30 monofiliment about 1.5" above the upper sturface of the spreaders (tie one end to the upper shroud about at the top of the spreader boot, then pull across the forward edge of the mast to the the other upper shroud and tie tight.)

However, going around the front of the mast would pull the line forward and it would not be right above the spreader, so the birds might still land there.

I do not want to drill any more holes in the mast for a bracket to tie the line to on each side of the mast, and I do not want to use a hose clamp to hold a bracket in place on the inboard end of each spreader since the main, genoa, or spinnaker would find it and probably tear.......

So, what do others do short of gunpowder? (by the way I tried a plastic owl once also. The birds turned it white with poop....)

Thaanks!

Chuck

Chuck Shaw
Confetti
Cat 25, hull#1
1976 FK/TR

Edited by - cshaw on 04/20/2011 17:33:45

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2011 : 17:42:46

Birds have not (yet) taken to our spreaders...no idea why...but they will perch on the boom...our solution is a CD, on a thin piece of line, clipped to one of the snaps that keep the sail cover in place...really does the trick

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2011 : 18:56:43

Chuck,

Sure you're not an engineer?

Your descripton of how birds might behave reminds me of people that observe and document wild animal behavior. Sounds like potential grant money to me!

As for rigging a taut line - I attach my spreaders to the spreader brackets with ss screws (replacing the cottter pins.) Perhaps you could fasten L-brackets that way.

Funny (or not) how birds seem to zero in on certain boats. There's a pontoon boat on the moorings at our marina that has a tent style Sunbrella cover over the entire deck . . . and the 90% of the cover was white from bird droppings last summer. We have to keep bats from nesting under our sail cover - but that's another thread.

Good luck!

Edited by - OJ on 04/21/2011 05:20:41

Ryan L
Navigator

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USA
230 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2011 : 23:08:17

I have a good friend who is captain of a 130' ketch. An osprey or sea hawk (some kind of bird of prey) started roosting on the spreader. In addition to the poop they would find body parts of rodents, birds, etc dropped down while it ate. His solution was to get a paintball gun and fill it with frozen paintballs. Probably not legal and it didn't end up working. His first shot nailed the spreader and caused yellow paint to spray all over the mast, teak decks, canvas, etc...

...the latest idea involves remote controlled helicopters. I'll let you know how it turns out.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 OK, I am getting tired of washing off bird poop all the time from birds that roost on the spreaders.

I have rigged tin pie plates on strings and hoisted them into the rigging during the seasons where the starlings darken the sky, and that works, but it does make the boat look a bit odd.....

I was thinking I would rig a taut line of #30 monofiliment about 1.5" above the upper sturface of the spreaders (tie one end to the upper shroud about at the top of the spreader boot, then pull across the forward edge of the mast to the the other upper shroud and tie tight.)

However, going around the front of the mast would pull the line forward and it would not be right above the spreader, so the birds might still land there.

I do not want to drill any more holes in the mast for a bracket to tie the line to on each side of the mast, and I do not want to use a hose clamp to hold a bracket in place on the inboard end of each spreader since the main, genoa, or spinnaker would find it and probably tear.......

So, what do others do short of gunpowder? (by the way I tried a plastic owl once also. The birds turned it white with poop....)

Thaanks!

Chuck

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

Scooter
Navigator

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USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 03:28:51

We had swallows nest under our dock and constantly resting on lifelines etc... We hung a few old CDs on fishing line in strategic places on the boat and no more birds. I'm told the flashing sunlight reflecting off the CDs blinds them so they stay away. So far I don't care why it worked but it worked. We made sure the CDs could "spin/swing" in the wind.

Ours have to be changed after several months since the weather makes the CD coating come off about every 6 months or so.

Good Luck.

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 04:00:19

If you don't want to drill, how about plastic tie-wraps around the spreader with the tails (the part you normally cut off) pointing up? But..at the speed you sail this may cause excess drag...

Edited by - on

JAB
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 04:59:58

Stainless steel bird spikes? Avail at [url="http://www.homedepot.com/buy/outdoors/garden-center/bird-x/stainless-bird-spikes-kit-10-ft-8908.html"]Home Depot[/url], for example.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 05:25:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ryan L
 His first shot nailed the spreader and caused yellow paint to spray all over the mast, teak decks, canvas, etc . . . the latest idea involves remote controlled helicopters . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hilarious!

to me at least

Edited by - OJ on 04/21/2011 05:26:34

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 05:41:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ryan L
 ...His solution was to get a paintball gun and fill it with frozen paintballs....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">In San Diego. Brilliant. <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">...the latest idea involves remote controlled helicopters. I'll let you know how it turns out.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Prediction: Body parts of rodents, birds, and helicopters dropping down.

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 12:37:47

Great ideas guys, thanks!!! I especially liked the paintball shooting story!!! (I'll pass on trying that approach however!)

The CD's are similar to the pie plates I have used (and both obviously are effective, but a bit strange...... Maybe the CD's woud be easier than the pieplates however.... I can hang them from a horizontal stick hoisted on the Spin Pole topping lift to get them close to the spreaders........

Certainly worth a try before monkeying with stringing monofiliment just above the spreaders and having to add a bracket that may snag on sails!

I'll let you know how it works!

-c-

Edited by - cshaw on 04/21/2011 12:38:54

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 12:39:10

Bird spikes are the best method. Using zip-ties is the cheapest way to go about it, but might not look all that great.

Tennis raquet string might work just the same and be a little more invisible.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/21/2011 12:40:33

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 12:43:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 Bird spikes are the best method. Using zip-ties is the cheapest way to go about it, but might not look all that great.

Tennis raquet string might work just the same and be a little more invisible.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What do you think the spacing on the zip ties would need to be to be effective? (and how high for the "spikes")

If I try monofiliment, I have some #40 that is really hard to see 10 ft away......

-c-

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 13:00:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 Bird spikes are the best method. Using zip-ties is the cheapest way to go about it, but might not look all that great.

Tennis raquet string might work just the same and be a little more invisible.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What do you think the spacing on the zip ties would need to be to be effective? (and how high for the "spikes")

If I try monofiliment, I have some #40 that is really hard to see 10 ft away......

-c-
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Depends if it's easy for you to drop the mast or reach the spreaders. Try 6-8", and if that doesn't work, put one inbetween all the existing ones.
For a one time job, i'd probably go every 3-4" to be safe.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/21/2011 13:03:14

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 13:03:53

The Perfect solution!! An ultrasonic bird repeller. at only $615.85 its even affordable!

http://www.bird-x.com/ultrason-x-p-4.html

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2011 : 13:14:07

For my pond, I have a "Scarecrow". It's a constant fed sprinkler activated by a motion sensor.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/21/2011 13:14:36

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