Bird Dung

[Mark Prouty]

What is the best way to scare away birds so they don't leave behind their calling cards? Does a plastic owl work? I have a duck problem in the summer.

[Terry]

At the marina it is seagulls that leave their calling cards and I always find it on the white deck, never the blue areas. I am not sure that an owl is big enough to intimidate a bird as large as a seagull or even a duck, they do scare pidgeons and smaller birds though. Anyone know who the natural enemy of the seagull is besides us humans? Maybe a really scary looking scarecrow would do the trick.

[blue_shiba]

Ummm why get rid of the ducks? Could enlist'em for some ship duty eh?
---------Blue

[James V]

There is an article somewhere that posed this question to its readers. Don't remeber where . I did keep some thoughts on what to use.

12" tie wraps on the spreader pointed up keeps the birds off. Put some fishing line a few inches off the life lines will keep the birds off the lines. Birds walking on the deck, well, carpet tacks might help, but it would take a lot. Learn how to make Duck dishes.

The Owls and snakes workes only for a short while. A pet dog will keep them off.

This site has several things that might be of use -
http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page80.html

I have use this company before with good results but not with these products.

[They Theirs]

Who Ya Gonna Call?



Duck Busters!

[Mark Prouty]

With owl decoys - been there done that!
Owl decoys - effective??

But I never thought of enlisting them.

[They Theirs]

Maybe looking into Predators Poo

[Frank C]

Seaworthy Magazine by the Boat US insurance co is a very good read, analogous to the magazines published by AAA, Farmers Ins, etc. Coincidentally they had this topic in a recent article, saying that motion-activated water is the most reliable. But the water sprinkler carried at James' above link is up to $250~!

Excepting the motion transducer, I could rig something from a drip irrigation system for a lot less. The owner who wrote of this solution said the birds are like theives ... after awhile they go looking for easier pickin's. Following is an excerpt from the linked Seaworthy page ...

If Bird Brains are so Tiny, Then Why is it that We Humans Have So Much Trouble Outwitting Them? Seaworthy Readers Fight Back!

In the January 2002 issue, Seaworthy asked readers to send along clever techniques for keeping birds off boats. After reading all of the responses, one thing is clear: Keeping anything with wings off boats is an obsession for many, many readers. All of their letters are included below. If you've got problems with birds on your boat, Seaworthy readers have the solution. Read on.

[jmclemore]

There are a variety of sonic devices on the market which purport to scare away birds, but I've never heard anyone say that they work, apart from company testimonials. Before I'd spend anything on them, I'd want some objective feeback. I suspect birds would eventually figure out that the noisemakers don't do anything more than make noise, and they'd ignore them.

A dog would probably be the best bet for scaring off birds, if it's practical in your situation. There are a lot of problems with non-migratory Canada Geese in our area. Property owners haven't had a lot of success with scaring them off, except with dogs. A few years ago, a corporation owning a large property outside of Philadelphia resorted to dogs to scare away obnoxious geese. I recall they were relatively successful. That was a few years ago, and I think the company has since been acquired or liquidated. I guess the geese won in the end.

Natural predators might include eagles, hawks, foxes, coyotes, etc. I'm not sure you'd want to sprinkle your boat with fox urine. I'd rather clean duck doo doo than smell fox all day long - just my opinion of course.

[bobmonroe]

I've heard using CD disk tied together and run up on a halyard so they move and spin might scare them away, but I haven't tried it.

[DLT]

I've seen boats with rubber snakes laying on deck... They seemed "clean" of droppings...

[kmclemore]

IMHO staic displays like Owls, Snakes, etc. usually don't work for long, though for a short time they might be OK. As the lovely Admiral noted, however, a live one works great if you can manage it... but of course if you're going to be away from the boat for long periods that may not work.

I was curious so I did a little investigating and I found at least a few possible other options:

Bird Spikes - a tried and true solution, but a bit nasty looking... maybe the clear polycarbonate ones aren't so visible?

Daddi Long Legs... I wonder if the DLL might be just the ticket for top-of-mast mounting or on the sail cover? They even make a special adapter for boats.


And then there's "ShockTrack" (particularly interesting as it can be solar-powered). Brutal, but I'll bet it's effective.

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

When I worked as a longshoreman at the Port of Milwaukee they installed rotating yellow lights in the warehouse roof trusses in an attempt to keep birds from roosting on top of the pallets of flour, CSM, etc. that were being shipped out as part of the AID program. They looked like big yellow gumball machines.
When they turned them on it worked for about 2 - 3 minutes, until the birds figured out they could roost on top of them to stay warm.
So they took all of the lights back down and threw them in a dumpster. I took one out and still have it around here somewhere.

[Divecoz]

Motion detector water deterrent can be found for $50. . . I am off to work in 5 min. or I would go look thru the magazines in the 1st floor bathroom / library .

[Frank C]

. . . or I would go look thru the magazines in the 1st floor bathroom / library

If not, call me.
I have a version of that library at my extension campus!