Seagulls on my Boat

[Muscongus]

Occasionally, during the work week, seagulls think it's fun to hang out on my boat.

Personally, I don't think it's all that much fun, though I can definitely see the humor in it.

I've just purchased a solar powered owl whose head twitches around every so often to scar the snot out of the gulls (on theory, any way)

Any one have success in keeping them of your boat while you're away?

[David_Old_Jersey]

CD's on a string.

Seagulls are territorial / like their habits, the trick is to not make your boat part of their Territory! and to do that not so much about scaring them away (they are not completely stupid!) but making them feel less comfortable perched on your boat as on someone else's! and having the odd glint in the corner of their eye does that, even though they know it is not dangerous - I think as annoying for them as it would be for you or me when chillaxing!......hauling up a disposable flag above the cross trees also has an effect.

[boatman61]

CD's work... friend of mine suspends 3 wire coat hangers on string with a blank CD super glued to each end.... 1 over the cockpit.. 1 under the boom and the 3rd over the foredeck... the spinning and swinging around freaks em right out..

[Teknav]

Why aren't you having seagulls for dinner? They taste like chicken!

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[dochip]

We use several very realistic rubber snakes to keep the birds and their byproducts off Piper. Seems to work.

[CaptTom]

Long experience with those rats with wings here. Nothing "scares" them. Like all birds, new things make them nervous. Whatever you deploy; owls, snakes, etc, will keep them away. For a while. It's not because they're fooled into thinking it's an owl or snake. Once they get used to it, they'll be back.

What they need is a safe place to perch and an easy getaway when predators approach.

Monofilament (fishing) line strung across their flight path will keep them away. I suspect it's because it's hard to see until they've clipped it with a wing or foot. Just knowing they might not be able to make a safe landing or getaway makes it a lousy perch.

I don't know about the glinting CDs. I've seen it tried but not often enough to know the results. Seems to make sense that it would annoy them, at least on a sunny day.

[Stu Jackson]

BoatUS has a looong discussion about keeping birds off your boat.

[ryon]

That's why we have all those lines running aloft. Just grab the right one, and shoo them off!

[boatman61]

Hi active yeast mashed into soft bread and moulded into small balls and left on decks works well to... they cant fart... so they explode.. the feathers are easier to hose off

[Muscongus]

Well,
I'll be back on the boat on Friday and will be able to see if the solar owl worked or not.

Not to sure how I'd put up fishing line that wouldn't be a hassle, though that makes a lot of sense.

My wife did some research and found a thing that we've seen on a couple power boats. Both those boats are nice and clean....

It's a wind powered spinning thing that clamps onto your boat. Looks to be about six feet wide.

I'm not sure what it's called - I'll have her show me again and let you guys know.

[Muscongus]

It's by a company called."seagull control systems"

[o_q]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Hi active yeast mashed into soft bread and moulded into small balls and left on decks works well to... they cant fart... so they explode.. the feathers are easier to hose off

I like this solution best

[Hydra]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

Monofilament (fishing) line strung across their flight path will keep them away. I suspect it's because it's hard to see until they've clipped it with a wing or foot. Just knowing they might not be able to make a safe landing or getaway makes it a lousy perch.

When my boat was on a mooring, I got the same result with 3 thin (2mm) black braided lines strung from the gooseneck to the bow and stern pulpits. I think seagulls just don't like having something over them that could prevent them from taking off quickly.

Alain

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Hydra

I think seagulls just don't like having something over them that could prevent them from taking off quickly.

Agreed, that's my theory too. We had a pet bird once and I think bird brains are all alike in some ways.

The whirligigs or whatever are pretty popular in places with a big seagull problem, so their must be something to them. I'd give it a try, can't hurt. There have been a few times I've seen seagulls sitting next to the whirly thing, blocking it from spinning. But not often. I think they make the perch less appealing, anyway.

[Bregts]

We just cruised the English SW coast for a month where they have a lot of seagulls and the 'Gullsweep' is very popular there. I've only seen it on powerboats however, might not be easy to mount on a sailboat.