Challenge: Preventing Loons from Roosting on Spreaders

[ggray]

What a mess ! I've had birds before, but this is unbelievable.

I'll stretch a line between mast and rigging above spreader, but if anyone has had success dealing with loons, perhaps they could suggest the most effective distance this line should be above the spreader, or any other idea. Now is not the time to experiment !

Thanks !

[Oceansandmts]

I think you have cormorants, as loons are almost totally water birds and don't roost. Cormorants can make an enormous, stinky mess so of course you want to get rid of them, and you have the right idea. A strong piece of mono fish line strung a couple inches over the spreader should do the trick, although they may move to the boom and you will need the fish line there, too. I think the 2" is about the right height for the line as it trips the birds as they try to land.

I think you can buy a commercial product that consists of vertical spikes that does the same thing, but I would wonder if it wouldn't snag lines.

Good luck, sometimes when the birds pick your boat for their roost, it is really hard to discourage them, even though there are plenty of other similar boats nearby.

[Roy M]

2-4 inches, horizontally above the spreader, with either monofilament line (needs occasional replacement due to UV breakdown) or UV stable small stuff (otherwise, the small birds sit on it, happily). I did this for overhanging rafters at a shopping center to counter pigeons. It works quite effectively, sending the birdies off to another, more bird-friendly, boat.

The spikes are available from Bird-B-Gone (http://birdbgone.com/), in plastic and stainless steel. Also available, in more costly options, are higher tech sound devices, electric shock strips, etc. I've installed a couple of these sonic devices. They work, but they irritate your neighbors as much as the birds. There's nothing quite so disruptive to pleasant roosting and pooping like the sound of your cousin being apparently disemboweled somewhere nearby.

At the masthead, use a Windex with bird spike (http://www.davisnet.com/MARINE/produ...sp?pnum=R3150E).

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by Roy M

.... I've installed a couple of these sonic devices. They work, but they irritate your neighbors as much as the birds. There's nothing quite so disruptive to pleasant roosting and pooping like the sound of your cousin being apparently disemboweled somewhere nearby....

The resident GOM (grouchy old man) installed one of these on the face dock next to his trawler. That friggin thing went off at random intervals.

I was on the other dock, nearly at the other end. I found myself tense, waiting for that hellish sound.

Never did notice a decrease in the bird population (maybe for a couple of days). He refused to remove it, and eventually covert operations were undertaken... the squaker at last had squaked it's last....

[LakeSuperior]

Cormorants, medieval death birds, will respond quickly and positively to high speed lead poisoning. Of course they are Federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, and subsequent amendments.

Adults eat about 1 lb of fish per day and their guano is highly acidic. The North American population is estimated to be approximately 2 million birds. Thats 2 million lbs of fish consumed per day.

[Hud3]

I'm with Roy. I had bird-on-the-spreader problems. 50# test monofilament stretched from the shrouds to eyestraps installed on the mast, about 3' above the spreaders, did the trick.

[CarlF]

Consider stainless wire (attached to a small self-tapping screw in the mast) - as it won't stretch. These birds are heavy enough that they can just land on the nylon fishing line and stretch it down against the spreader. I set the wire 3" above the spreader.

Carl

[Bash]

when a cormorant swims it will tip its bill slightly upward. a loon will not.

(Double-crested cormorants are fairly common in the Chesapeake. My guess is that this is the species that is haunting your spreaders. Except for mating season, loons tend to roost in the water.)

[LakeSuperior]

They also will stand with their wings outspread in the sun to dry them off.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

They also will stand with their wings outspread in the sun to dry them off.

Cormorants lack the waterproofing oil that keeps the feathers of other seabirds dry. Hence the need to dry their wings after feeding.

Of course, there's a tradeoff: most other seabirds can't "fly" five fathoms under water.

[David M]

Cormorants are also excellent fliers.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by David M

Cormorants are also excellent fliers.

They were almost wiped out by DDT in the 50s and 60s.

[bstreep]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

They were almost wiped out by DDT in the 50s and 60s.

Researchers have now determined that DDT did NOT nearly wipe out Bald Eagles, Brown Pelicans, etc. The worldwide banning of DDT - for rather less-than-scientific reasons, has resulted in the deaths of millions- yes, millions - of people from malaria.

The fact that DDT continues to be blamed for this, shows how firmly folks will cling to junk science. Just today, the EPA removed the Brown Pelican from the Endangered Species list - citing the discontinued use of DDT. In spite of the numerous studies showing DDT to not cause egg shells to thin, and NONE showing that they do...

Just to admit that I was involved, I was EXTREMELY active in my high school and college days as an environmentalist - and DDT was #1 on my complaint list. I got suckered in with everyone else. I'm a molecular biologist by education.

[bstreep]

We found, by accident last year, that hanging Christmas Lights from your mast works EXTREMELY well!

[scook1]

You should consider it a compliment that the birds want to be there!
Spencer