#^&* Birds Nest with Eggs Inside my Boom and I Want to go Sailing!!

[roverhi]

That happened when I got my brand new mainsail. It was a very big mess and they stained the sail permanently. Now I lash a line around the end of the boom so no birds can get in to build a nest. Unfortunately, they moved to the boat next door which hasn't seen an owner in the 3 years that I've had my boat in the marina. No birds now, just birds***.

[rebel heart]

My friend had the same damn thing a year ago. Little guys got into the mizzen sail. It's pretty barbaric to kill little birds; sorry.

[MarkJ]

You think you have problems! If you had a certain Nicolle on board you wouldn't go sailing till all were born and fledged... you'd probably be up all night taking gifts of insects...

We were about a million miles off the coast of India when this little girly flew around the boat... then inside!
I thought I would have to divert to the closest far away island, but she flew off at 6am on the dot...

We were using the cabin but she just sat there through the watch changes, didnt worry her at all.

[Boracay]

It's a real hassle. On the one hand I'd hate to see a defenseless chick die, on the other I'd want to use my boat.

For me if it's a nest with no eggs I'd pull it out (Not sure of the legal position here so best to check before doing this), if there were eggs I'd ask the local wildlife rescue or Park Ranger what they suggest.

A little diplomacy here. Some, especially children, can get very upset by this sort of thing.

[IceMan]

I duct tape over the end of the boom to stop them from getting in.

Thanks Sailor Doug for the idea. I heard a bird crawling in my boom this morning and it was of course a starling. I pulled all the crap out of the boom and promptly taped over the hole in the back of the boom. No more birds. Once again, thanks for the idea.
WD

[senormechanico]

After the "Bird in the Boom" experience of several years ago, I stuff a little piece of foam in mine.

[roger.waite]

Yep ... been there. My Starlings were in the folds of the mainsail.

Being a tad dense, I was wondering where all that straw on the deck was blowing in from. Then I hoisted the sail and dropped a couple of eggs between the legs of one of my guests, and showered her with straw.

Could have been worse for the guest, but not the chicks. Just another case of natural selection or the Gods' hands at work. Either way, those wee darlings were just not destined to survive.

I blame the parents ...

[hummingway]

Some birds, like those randy little sparrows, keep going all summer. One clutch after nother. Got to keep them out of the boom. Now those ravens that keep landing on my spreaders... if I get my hands on them it's 4 and 20 blackbirds all the way!

[s/v Beth]

This months Practical Sailor has a nice article about Bird deterrents. I bought me a "Scare Eyes" and will tell you if it works....

[feelsgood]

Originally Posted by irwin28

Finally got off of work from a 28 day hitch, got to my boat to take it out and there's a frickin birds nets with two small birds and eggs inside my boom....this sux

Share the eggs with a friend and go sailing on his boat and leave the birds to be happy think how they will sing in the morning to wake you up to go sailing with a friend he he he

[barnakiel]

Whoa! Amazing. We had vasps but birds never! And what a joy (and a lot of cleaning later)!

Sweetsailing - I love the pic! And the attitude (if it is you in the pic).

b.