In our cove with about a hundred or so sailboats a majestic blue heron has decided that the bimini on our backstayless Hunter is his/her favorite strategic vantage point. What alot of gross, stinky guano! Short of taking down the bimini every week is there a solution? I laughed at the Admiral when she suggested a plastic owl so she is trying mothballs. Anyone have an suggestion? Thanks.
Blue Heron Problem
- Thread starter Monty Miller
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If you can, string some fine fishing line, preferably something like Berkley FireLine, about 20 lb. test, about a foot above the bimini if you can. The heron will hit it a few times... and not really being able to see it, will avoid the area it is strung up over.
Plastic owls usually don't fool other birds for very long.
Plastic owls usually don't fool other birds for very long.
In Maryland even the bald eagles don't challange the blue herons.
I would run a couple of lines from the mast to the stern rail just to interfere with the birds landings. Make them big enough to show. Maybe from the shrouds to the stern rail. If you use a rolling hitch on the shrouds then you can push that end up with a boat hook and put the lines in the birds way.
I've seen gull sweeps, used car lot flags, and surveyor tape strung from stay to mast. For some reason my boat (with green canvas) is spared while our friends in the next slip (blue canvas) get pooped. I take part in the support group by mixing Cosmos. It would be a shame though if there were no birds to clean up after.
All U Get
All U Get
I have an end of pier slip right up against the breakwater with gulls on every piling. The worst we ever get is a few feathers? Hurricane Isobel took out another pier and the birds also use that. sometimes I see the heron(Nancy calls it Albert)on the pile that my portside bow line is tied to but it never soils the boat.
Good Suggestions
I'm going to try using PVC pipe attached to the bimini supports and run a thin cord or fishing line to the opposite corners in a "X" pattern a foot or so above. Thanks for the quick and great responses.
I'm going to try using PVC pipe attached to the bimini supports and run a thin cord or fishing line to the opposite corners in a "X" pattern a foot or so above. Thanks for the quick and great responses.
Clear line will trap and kill them. Duh!
Put something up there that they can't sit on, like traffic cones (the 3' ones). We are all creatures of habit, and once you break this one of using your boat, you should be in good shape.
Ever see those fan powered tube creatures used in advertising? Perhaps just a tube inflated by a fan that blows around would scare them.
Anyway, make it hard for them to land, but make sure they can see it. Unless you are like Dan and Nina who used the clear fishing line and caught one dead....Their whole summer was S H _ _ because of the bad luck. OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH
Of course, if you have some good hot sauce......
Put something up there that they can't sit on, like traffic cones (the 3' ones). We are all creatures of habit, and once you break this one of using your boat, you should be in good shape.
Ever see those fan powered tube creatures used in advertising? Perhaps just a tube inflated by a fan that blows around would scare them.
Anyway, make it hard for them to land, but make sure they can see it. Unless you are like Dan and Nina who used the clear fishing line and caught one dead....Their whole summer was S H _ _ because of the bad luck. OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH
Of course, if you have some good hot sauce......
Tho52mas-
If the line is secured on both ends, it isn't going to present a danger to the birds, just a nuisance that they'll want to avoid.
If the line is secured on both ends, it isn't going to present a danger to the birds, just a nuisance that they'll want to avoid.
Re: Good Suggestions
We fold up our Bimini and put on the Bimini boot; added benefit is the Bimini and its thread seems last a whole lot longer as well.
I wouldn't want to see birds hurt by mono fishing line, though I've heard it works in keeping them off your spreaders; I'd asume its doubtfull you can keep them off a larger surface without risking entanglement.
We fold up our Bimini and put on the Bimini boot; added benefit is the Bimini and its thread seems last a whole lot longer as well.
I wouldn't want to see birds hurt by mono fishing line, though I've heard it works in keeping them off your spreaders; I'd asume its doubtfull you can keep them off a larger surface without risking entanglement.
Since herons are migratory I think that you will find that it is a crime to harm them. They posess excellant eyesight and can therefore see larger lines and will simply avoid them. If you are intent of causing harm attach fish hooks to your monofiliment line.
:naughty:
:naughty:I don't want to hurt the bird so I will use 1/4" line. Migratory? It's been around 1 1/2 to 2 years. Had a mate for awhile and it left. Fun to watch in the early morning as it skims the lake surface and selectively picks it's meal. We're about 150 miles inland. I don't know anything about blue herons. I just remember seeing them on the coast. Tell me more.
They nest in trees, they can land and take off from deep water, they can catch fish on the wing, they are very territorial and watching them in flight disputing a stretch of river is great sport. I once saw on snatch a fish from the water just ahead of a bald eagle, both were on the wing and the heron just a little head. They will dive off a pile to catch a fish in deep water but they have to be pretty certain before they attempt.
Albert
).
Now that the spiders are gone, the seagulls have been hanging out on my spreaders eating those orange/red berries and leaving deposits on my deck . I might have to go up there to try some thick mono-filament line.
I have my old shrouds and stays in my basement, how about cutting one up and using that instead of mono-filament?
Manny
Ross, I think Albert comes over and hangs out at my dock sometimes. He walks along the main section and stops at the edge and stares into the water motionless for a long time. It's amazing how he just kind of freezes. He seems be well mannered - He takes his food elsewhere, and doesn't soil the dock. His call makes all the other birds take flight (scared me too the first time I heard it
).Now that the spiders are gone, the seagulls have been hanging out on my spreaders eating those orange/red berries and leaving deposits on my deck
. I might have to go up there to try some thick mono-filament line. I have my old shrouds and stays in my basement, how about cutting one up and using that instead of mono-filament?
Manny
Monty,
I had the same problem only with my Boom. The sail cover and cabin roof would be covered! I used a thin (1/8") cord and attached it to the aft end of the boom and then drapped it up the boom about 8-10 inches off the boom and wrapped it around the mast. NO problem since. (7-8 months) They do seem recently to have moved to the bow pulpit. I added a line there last week. Haven't been out since so I don't know if it worked yet. My line is white and very visible. I suspect they just moved to one of my neighbors boats.
Mike
I had the same problem only with my Boom. The sail cover and cabin roof would be covered! I used a thin (1/8") cord and attached it to the aft end of the boom and then drapped it up the boom about 8-10 inches off the boom and wrapped it around the mast. NO problem since. (7-8 months) They do seem recently to have moved to the bow pulpit. I added a line there last week. Haven't been out since so I don't know if it worked yet. My line is white and very visible. I suspect they just moved to one of my neighbors boats.
Mike
Three years ago we had a similar problem with ducks and our dodger. I tried: covering the dodger with netting, a rubber snake,a toy parrot, mothballs, and a 'glow in the dark' swinging skeleton. Nothing worked untill I folded down the dodger.
On the positive side, I was sure happy that we had installed a raw water wash down pump...it really got a work out.
On the positive side, I was sure happy that we had installed a raw water wash down pump...it really got a work out.
GBH is listed in the Migratory Bird Act
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html#alpha1
if memory serves, maximum penalty is $10,000. might be better to hang a few CDs to scare your friend away than to string monofiliment that might be considered a snare.
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html#alpha1
if memory serves, maximum penalty is $10,000. might be better to hang a few CDs to scare your friend away than to string monofiliment that might be considered a snare.
We have seagulls, pelicans, herons, cormorants, etc. that used to love to roost and poop on our pier. We strung monofilament fishing line along one side of the pier, about 6 inches above the deck, and it keeps all (well, almost) the birds off the pier. So far (after 4 + years) we have not killed any birds of any kind.
beach life in the sunshine state-
Here in St Pete, we're between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico- which means we have waterfront restaurants east and west. Almost every single restaurant strings monofiliment fishing line to keep the birds (all kinds) away from food and patrons.
I appreciate wildlife as much as the next guy, and certainly wouldn't support intentionally injuring a bird, protected or otherwise. Around here, stringing up the fishing line is considered business as usual. Never seem a bird injured by it, and I've spent more than my share of time at these establishments!
IMHO, I don't believe using it endangers them.
cup
Here in St Pete, we're between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico- which means we have waterfront restaurants east and west. Almost every single restaurant strings monofiliment fishing line to keep the birds (all kinds) away from food and patrons.
I appreciate wildlife as much as the next guy, and certainly wouldn't support intentionally injuring a bird, protected or otherwise. Around here, stringing up the fishing line is considered business as usual. Never seem a bird injured by it, and I've spent more than my share of time at these establishments!
IMHO, I don't believe using it endangers them.
cup
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