Effective Method of Keeping Birds off Boat

[Bruce626]

In a tropical area, what are the most effective means of keeping birds off of the boat? Not that I have anything intrinsically against birds, I just object to the droppings messing up my catamaran. I have tried recycling plastic bags into bird shooing items - which seems to work when the wind blows, but the bags blow to tatters and eventually end up in the sea - so a better solution is needed. I heard that plastic owls might work but if there are no natural owls locally, one wonders if birds will be afraid to them. I heard that plastic snakes might work and there are snakes here, but I spoke with a person who tried this and while local workers wouldn't set foot on his boat - the birds seemed not to be bothered. It seems like an animal with an animosity to birds might be a solution - but this seems like trading many small droppings for fewer larger ones. Surely this must be a widespread problem to which someone has found solutions.

[rtbates]

I had great results from hanging cds. They move around and reflect sunlight to great effect. I made a hanger that I hoisted up the mainsail track.

OR you could find out what birds are the natural predator of these and find a recording of their call. Maybe a hawk screeching every few minutes? or maybe not..

Lots of stuff out there. Google is your friend...
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1...w=1252&bih=436

[Ram]

ive been using my shotgun- works great as long as you use bird shot- it also keeps unwanted folks from coming by- but may be illeigle in some areas

[speakeasy]

A bird fence. Stainless wire from spreader, 6" or so up from spreader tip, run into spreader base. They land in the middle of spreader for wing clearance. Just put them on and that damn cormorant hasn't been back since.

[zeehag]

MEOUW.
works well for me.
he is a great bird catcher. even kills seagulls landing on our boat.....

[Dulcesuenos]

Rubber snakes on the deck work great for us plus its funny to drape one across someone sleeping and watch them wake up.

[sabray]

Some duck is laying eggs in my cockpit. I closed up with all the side curtains and the bastard broke in and did it again. Even worse looks like a hen coop exploded. I guess they hatched. Dad was so exited he "@;? All over. Any tips for getting egg yolk off Teak.

[zeehag]

eggie off teak--sea water an 3m green pad. lots of seawater--might wanna let it soak for a bit. sea water wont hurt teak wood.

[sabray]

Thanks zee, of course I left the cushions out never do that so yolk on those too.

[virginia boy]

Originally Posted by zeehag

MEOUW.
works well for me.
he is a great bird catcher. even kills seagulls landing on our boat.....

I've been trying to talk Leslie into bringing her two cats aboard, but I worry how they'd fair with a larger predatory bird like a raptor or even a bran owl? It seems like it would be only a matter of time before they're bird food.

[zeehag]

bubba has seen owls and other huge birds, and with tarps on boat topsides, burdees of size cannot eat my gato. besides they run for cover when a predator comes in sight... trust me on that one--bubba comes inside FAST...

try soaking covers after removal from cushions...then wash in good detergent by hand...

[capnorv]

Shotgun works great, I use a 410 gauge since our boats not very big and it's surrounded by million dollar houses. Osprey nest on the corner seems to be helping also.

[ozskipper]

plastic cats, owls, eagles, snakes. usually work depending on location and breed of the pest bird.

[Siren o the Sea]

It is funny to me how some get upset when the natural water fowl/creatures decide to take a venture and visit a man made vessel placed in their natural inhabitants.

[Aussiesuede]

I had a telephone wire that crossed my driveway and birds used to perch on it and crap all over the car. I eventually got fed up and when the plastic Owl didn't work, I purchased an ultrasonic emmiter. Took care of 90% of the problem. Instead of the daily crap bombs I was getting, it was cut back to about once every 10 days. My guess is a bird other than the crows & seagulls cruised the area occasionally to eave me a present, but the main culprits were no longer a nuisance. I'd imagine it work well on the boat as wel, but have never tried it.


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