How do you keep the birds away!?

aero3113

This is the first season I’m trying something besides my pet owl. Two Mylar wind socks on either side of the boat with swivels so they will not get tangled up when the wind shifts. Hopefully they help, I might add one to my VHF antenna if needed. This seagull was **** when I put them up!! LoL! I picked up his fish and threw it in the water also!!

YYZRC

Nice little shore lunch there @aero3113

Liberty44140

Hey Aero! I hope the socks work but I fear they are too far away to do much. Will be interesting. Along with the sock on my antenna for the hard top, I use these for the bow rail:

https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Bird-Deterrent-for-Boats/dp/B01GN8479M

Handymans342

What if no wind Alexandria? LOL

GMSLITHO

Its good to use to  tell you  the wind direction when docking also .Another good way to tell wind direction when docking look at the birds they alway stand into the wind for take off 

aero3113

Handymans342 said:

What if no wind Alexandria? LOL

I want to say 95% of the time we have a breeze.

aero3113

They do make a little noise, hopefully that helps also.

PickleRick

Rubber snakes and or an owl statue.  I hear gulls don't like hooters or hurt juice.  

davidbrooks

I had to create a contraption last year to put around my anchor chain to keep birds from building nests inside of the anchor locker. I had to throw nest out three times.

aero3113

PickleRick said:

Rubber snakes and or an owl statue.  I hear gulls don't like hooters or hurt juice.  

I don’t think our gulls have ever seen a snake. I wonder if a rubber snake would work.

LaRea

davidbrooks said:

I had to create a contraption last year to put around my anchor chain to keep birds from building nests inside of the anchor locker. I had to throw nest out three times.

@davidbrooks how did you do it?  I've resorted to leaving the anchor locker open until June.  

PickleRick

Are your gulls from Ireland?

davidbrooks

I got a rubber insert that you put in your sink for garbage disposal. Put that over the chain then created a small vinyl frame for it from siding channel from HD. Just formed it with som tin snips. Then used some caulking to "glue" it in place. It sits flush with the anchor locker door and is essentially invisible. The thing i like is i dont have to take it in or out and also helps keep some rain out.

Handymans342

Is there a battery operated owl that has a motion detector?

PickleRick

For around 40 to 50 bucks you can get a solar powered owl that turns its head every 30 seconds or so.  The rubber snakes you have to move around every few days to keep their effect.  They are cheap at the dollar store

RiverRat232

I don't have a solution to your bird problem but at least you don't own this boat.

aero3113

That’s crazy @RiverRat232 , and I’m sure the best is protected and has to stay.

aero3113

Checked on the boat today and no new poop since I cleaned and installed the windsocks yesterday. We will see.....

YYZRC

How about eradicating spiders? Will pay a large sum for a viable solution.  

Liberty44140

Awesome Aero! YYRC, good old Ortho Home Defence from Home Depot works great here for spiders. Spray the dock lines, shore power cords, dock and posts, rub rail, canvas….. we spray every few weeks. Huge difference!!

raybo3

We have an idiot at our club that feeds them. He thinks its funny and he has a name for each one. People at the club are getting really pi$$ed but he has been doing it for about 4 years now. 

RiverRat232

aero3113 said:

That’s crazy @RiverRat232 , and I’m sure the best is protected and has to stay.

That's the first thing that went through my mind. Will he ever be able to use that boat again?

aero3113

Not only does he lose his boat, he lost his lift and slip!  

davidbrooks

Are you sure that is a boat?  Kind of looks like a hot tub on a boat lift to me.

Spyderweb

@YYZRC we’ve had pretty decent luck with tucking clothes drier sheets in the nooks and crannies of the canvas/support poles.