Bird Poop everywhere!

[Bad Obsession]

Does anyone have any solution for keeping birds off of docks and boats?

The problem that I, and a bunch of my slip mates, are facing is that our dock is getting covered in duck poop. I mean every square inch of wood was covered the other day. It is nasty!

To complicate matters, the owner of the marina likes the ducks and feeds them. He puts fresh water and food out for them. He does not go out to the docks and clean up after them.

Would plastic owls, plastic snakes, or anything like that help keep the birds off of the docks and boats? Actually, they are mainly using the docks and rarely the boats. Still, there has to be a legal way to keep them off.

Any suggestions would be appreciated (other than b-b guns or Alka Seltzer).

 

[RichH]

http://www.birdcontrolpro.com/contr...ck repellent&gclid=CNyBvICzx7MCFQSf4AodbRIAHQ

 

[Calif. Ted]

Unless you convince the owner to quit feeding the only effective deterrent would be a hungry Bobcat tethered to the dock.
http://www.liveducks.com/wfeeding.html

 

[Gunni]

I watched a woman at our marina entertain her kids one day by having them feed a loaf of bread to a gaggle of ducks, and geese. The next day she was swinging an oar at the same critters as they roosted on her stern, leaving lots of little gifts. Had to remind her that menacing game animals is a violation of the law.

Talk to the marina owner and tell him to quit feeding wild animals.

 

[Ron-Anne]

We had the same problem, someone put fish line at about the 7 foot level using plastic pipe every 25 feet or so on either side of the main dock and crisscrossing the dock making a X pattern, the result, clean docks all summer:dance:.

 

[Indysailor]

I perched a plastic owl on my boom when we kept our boat on a ball. It worked very well, to my surprise. I believe most of the bird droppings were from small birds, perching in the lifelines, which were frightened by the owl.
We have not had problems at our slip, so I can't say how well it would have worked there. Also, it may depend on the species of the culprits.

 

[Witzend]

In the North Chessy we have pterodactyls that shit tar balls. Seriously, it is the Osprey that give us the biggest problem, dissecting fish and leaving the carnage on our deck. I bought a "Bird Be Gone" but they just shit on that.
Not really much can be done if the birds want to do something they will.
The Propane Cannon sound interesting, but it will probably wake up the neighbors.

 

[DAVA390]

we keep 2 rubber snakes on our cabin top. We think the birds sit on the main and poop all over the cabin while they are deciding what to do with the snakes. They are moved around every time we come to the boa! When we went on vacation to Grand Canyon this summer,snakes must have gone on vacation too,we came home to an awful mess,they sure aren`t earning their keep!

 

[Stu Jackson]

BoatUS has a good writeup on all the shenanigans folks have used over the years.

 

[catsailor]

I'm not a dog lover, but if you have one, bring it. Let it off the leash a little. Invite guests with dogs. Perhaps this is a way to make the marina unattractive to them.

A group letter informing him his behavior is inappropriate and possibly dangerous (slippery). If someone were to slip on the poop, the liability might be assignable, since his practice is highly unusual in a marina environment.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Since he's an animal lover maybe he wouldn't mind you chumming for sharks while he's feeding the ducks, probably wouldn't have to chum more than a couple times before the sharks figured out where to get an easy duck dinner.

 

[finding41]

Eat them! They are delicious!
If someone has been feeding them, all the better. There easier to catch. Some inspiring recipes here: http://www.epicurious.com/tools/browseresults?type=browse&att=89
Maybe make sure you have a duck license. Or call them domesticated.
I call them delicious!

 

[Bad Obsession]

I forgot to mention that the marina owner is someone I have known since I was 10 years old. I don't want to tick him off.

I wonder if a bunch of plastic owls would do the trick. I would love to let my lab loose at the docks to retrieve a few but it is in a bird sanctuary and my dog passed away last year.

 

[onecoolair]

I forgot to mention that the marina owner is someone I have known since I was 10 years old. I don't want to tick him off.

I wonder if a bunch of plastic owls would do the trick. I would love to let my lab loose at the docks to retrieve a few but it is in a bird sanctuary and my dog passed away last year.

Actually he should not want to piss off you and your boat neighbor friends....... You think he would change his ways if he stepped out of his front door early one morning and into a pile of duck poo and poo all over his truck even better if the window was mysteriously left open . And then once he finally does make it to his office to find a flock of ducks had spent the night.....
We had a boat neighbor that once that had a duck feeding habit... Problem habit went away.

 

[sinnettc]

Got a paper bag & lighter? Maybe leave a flaming present on his doorstep?

 

[zeehag]

bubba dabatkat kills em--goooood kitty.

 

[Chris Patterson]

I just talked to my neighbor this morning, and asked how his owl under the spreaders worked for him. He said at first it worked great, but the do-do birds just figured it out somehow and have returned.
Nature seems to be kind of resilient that way..

 

[MrBee]

It just about duck season !!
Seriously, especially if he was a long time friend I would point out all the mess the ducks are causing and ask him to please stop feeding them. I know it's fun and neat and all but he must be able to see what s happening. If that fails get a plastic wash basket and take advantage of the fact that he has tamed the ducks to the point of you inviting them to your supper table ! seen a lady do that at a local park pond a few years ago. Walked right up, put the wash basket over the duck, reached under and grabed it, off she went with supper.

 

[Bob Camarena]

My bird problems increased when I changed my sail covers and dodger to a teal colored Sunbrella. I seem to get more bird poop than the neighboring boats with the traditional blue covers. My biggest problem was under the dodger where the birds, which I've never actually seen trespassing (I think they are coots), liked to find refuge.

I solved that problem with a piece of plastic mesh garden fencing that's tied to my dodger frame and hatchboards. It doesn't seal completely at the edges or bottom but it's enough to keep them out. Before I installed it I had so much coot poop under my dodger that I could have started a phosphate business. Before installing the mesh I tried hanging CDs from the dodger frame but that didn't work.

 

[Rick9671]

The problem will persist as long as the ducks are well fed and unharmed. They are basically pets at this point. Visual and acoustic scare devices are not effective as the ducks will become accustomed to them unless the are used in conjunction with lethal (shotgun, predator) control. Since shooting is not an option and predators seldom attack your target species at the location where you want them to, a physical barrier such as the overhead fishing line (at least 30 lb test strength) or netting is the most effective deterrent.

Ultrasonic devices are not effective for repelling birds; they work only on some dogs. There may be chemicals available that will deter ducks from consuming the feed the owner presents to them. Contact the USDA, APHIS Wildlife Services in your State for assistance.