Keeping birds off boat

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Jan 10, 2009
590
PDQ 32 Deale, MD
We had ducks on the docks and nesting in bushes. I persuaded a few neighbors and the local daycare that the yard was suitable for dog walking and play on weekdays. No ducks.

Cormorants on the main cover. Now I tie it with a peak and they can't perch. No cormorants.

Big birds would perch on the spreaders. I strung a fishing line ~ 6 inches higher. No big birds.

Now grackles perch on the roller furler and topping lift. With no bigger birds to scare them off, there are more birds and poop than ever. I could string something flashy, but if they are barely scared of me, what would that matter, other than one more thing to do before heading out?

I may try relocating the topping lift (boom in gallows and pull forward).

I'm at the end of the row in the marina and they simply like the spot. Other boats are clean. I've learned to like poop.
 
Aug 8, 2006
340
Catalina 34 Naples FL
birds on the mast

We have some pretty big birds here. The crows are large as are the hawks but Eales aand Osprey are the biggest. They like to sit atop the mast. So far this past year they have broken off the spike that sticks up on the wind indicator. They have bent the two wires that extend with flags on the ends out in a horizonal V that indicate how close you are sailing to the wind and yesterday they must have sat on the arrow because only half of it is left. (the pointy end not the one with the fletches.) These are big birds but I had not thought they would weigh that much. Still it is happening. Any ideas? (most of the pieces of the gear were found on the deck broken off by the way)
 
Jan 22, 2008
1,483
Hunter 37 C sloop Punta Gorda FL
Terry, we have a windex with a spike in the middle. Spike is a good 15-18 inches tall. I have wire ties sticking up on the mast head,fastened around the anchor light wire. Bought 2 stainless wires 1/16" x 2 feet long at my local ACE. Drilled a hole in the wind instrument hub used super glue to hold the wire into the hub. Bent the second wire and hose clamped it to the arm that moves the anemometer/ forward.

Mast head looks like a stainless steel porcupine. No more birds.
 
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