Suggestions for an effective bird repeller

[mackrobertson]

I have a problem with birds from the trees adjacent to my slip in the marina landing on my rigging & defecating on my boat.

Does anyone have a low-cost solution; ultrasonic or other wise that is truly effective in keeping them away?

[Stu Jackson]

Go to BoatUS's website, they have been having this discussion for decades.

[Hud3]

Install monofilament from the shrouds to an eyescrew in the mast, about 3"-4" above your spreaders. It'll keep the little buggers from landing. Hang a few old computer CDs from strategic points so that they spin in the breeze--they have some deterrent effect but not foolproof. Other than that, good luck!

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by mackrobertson

I have a problem with birds from the trees adjacent to my slip in the marina landing on my rigging & defecating on my boat.

Does anyone have a low-cost solution; ultrasonic or other wise that is truly effective in keeping them away?

Howdy Mack.

This topic about deterring birds has been discussed many times and was the subject of a recent thread. I don't have the link handy, but I did a quick Google Custom Search and you will find many comments on THIS forum about what people try and use and the birds laugh at too.

Good luck.

bird - Google Search

Also, here is My Favorite Tip for Searching for Fast Answers on This Forum:

What follows is written in a truly friendly tone of voice and with the sole intent to help you. 

There have been threads posted on the forum discussing many topics at length, with differing opinions. But quickly finding the right thread and the right answer could take a while, if one just browses the forum.

My favorite friendly forum search tip: Look at the green menu bar on the forum pages for the drop down "Search" menu. Click on that to drop down a list of search functions. From that drop down menu select the GOOGLE CUSTOM search feature (the second box down) and then enter several different descriptive terms for your topic of interest. That will do a Custom google search of ONLY this site and it is likely to find answers to your questions or results for you. It is the best and fastest method I have found to the answers I seek here.
______________

[pickpaul]

Get a cat for the boat, my boat is poop free since the addition of this equipment installation :-)

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[MarkJ]

Temporary solution when I parked in some bird haven: hoist empty shopping bags up your flag halyards. They don't like the flapping.

[Free Indeed]

Try rubber snakes! We have three on the boat and the purple martins land everywhere but on our boat! Now if the spiders would just take notice!


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by mackrobertson

I have a problem with birds from the trees adjacent to my slip in the marina landing on my rigging & defecating on my boat.

Does anyone have a low-cost solution; ultrasonic or other wise that is truly effective in keeping them away?

I think that one is going to need a chainsaw.

[rogern]

Has anyone ever tried Hot Foot gel? It has a great reputation ashore, but I'd never heard of it until chatting with someone who knows about commercial pest control.
FOUR PACK OF HOT FOOT REPELLENT GEL

[jreiter190]

I once had a challenger 32 on a mooring in Newport Beach. Every boat in the harbor was covered in poop but mine. I secretly installed two 45 volt instrument batteries wired together to make 90v. Put them in a waterproof box at the mast step, ran a wire to the masthead to a strip of copper sitting atop a dielectric piece of plastic. Passive system until a bird with wet feet landed. The toes wrap around and touch the metal and; 90 v up his rear end for the split second it takes to JUMP off. Once was enough for each bird. Poop less boat. Same principal as an electric fence.

[captain58sailin]

Take a 12 gauge shotgun and kill one of the beasties and hang it in the rigging, no other birds will approach. When that one rots off, repeat the process as needed, usually once is enough.

[Beavereater]

Having been in the pest control industry most of my adult life I would start with the most inexpensive and least labor intensive methods first. Your local farm and garden stores should carry a mylar tape product in rolls for the purpose of scaring birds, it's cheap and easy to attach to areas near where the birds are landing and should give you some relief. Letting it flutter in the wind in 3-6 foot lengths is effective, I like the metallic CD colored tape. CD's also work but usually chafe themselves loose. Mono-filament or wire stretched 4-8 inches above landing areas also works but will be difficult to install, hotfoot works but is very messy and will run in the hot sun and need to be constantly replaced as it degrades. Stainless spike-foot products work but installation is time consuming and mounting locations may be limited. Pellet guns work great but SWAT teams are not too sympathetic. Unfortunately my cat attracts squawking and pooping birds, so beware. Hope this helped.

[anacapaisland42]

Originally Posted by mackrobertson

I have a problem with birds from the trees adjacent to my slip in the marina landing on my rigging & defecating on my boat.

Does anyone have a low-cost solution; ultrasonic or other wise that is truly effective in keeping them away?

Count your blessings ......we are next to a blueberry field!!!!!!!
Bill

[Saleen411]

I bought some "scary bird" balloons as a start for my boat shelter. Haven't tried them yet. Reason is that everybody I know believes the only way this will work is if the birds die laughing at my balloons.

Meantime....pellet gun doing some fine work.

[hamburking]

Some boats around here have a plastic own mounted on the spreaders.