Birds, birds, and more birds

[Pete]

I am looking at the Saturday forecast, 60 degrees, sunny, 10 mph winds from the west, as a boat wash day. And why am I washing a boat in January in NC. Answer: birds, birds, lots of birds.

I have tried many ways to eliminate the problem, from a desperate bird call squarker, to old CDs hung by strings. Have considered some target practice, but the direction I would have to shoot has many houses. So, I have come to the source of knowledge for all things Hatteras, hoping that includes unwelcome birds. The majority are small birds that perch on the top of radio antennas, radar, anchor light, anything high.

Anyone had success with a bird deterrent? And please in this case, only actual success methods. I need results, I have had all the failed good ideas I need for a while.

Thanks

Pete

 

[GCSI]

Paintball gun, birds do learn... Have commercial warehouses in Fl with huge bird problems. Started with paintball guns and birds left within a few days. Problem was, we kind of enjoyed the sport, especially when hitting on the fly: bird would tumble but not go down. Employees started putting out Bird Chow to attract birds, only enticed them back once, couldn't get them to return after.

Have had similar luck with Geese

 

[hoop1013]

I used to have very good luck with whistling bottle rockets set off at 5 minute intervals, after about 2 days they seem to get the hint.

 

[Tinman]

Hang a plastic owl with some monofilament line near the area so that it moves with the wind. If mounted stationary on a piling it will be whitewashed. Mine hangs at the rear of the hard top and works well except for the ones that sit on the top of the outriggers and occasionally one on the bow. Two would probably work better. It seems they like to hang around docks and boats without much activity.

 

[GJH]

Turn the radar on for awhile every day. That clears 'em out pretty quick. We had this issue with migrating grackles on a stay in Georgia, and actually one run of the radar did the trick; they migrated to other boats.

 

[oscarvan]

I feel your pain. Had a cormorant living on the top of my mast once. First he made himself comfortable and bent some hardware out of the way. Then he proceeded to daily drop two to five pounds of partially digested crustaceans on my deck. The mess was unimaginable. Beach balls with evil eyes, cd's, owls... nothing. This is the only thing that worked:

http://www.nixalite.com/nixalitemodels.aspx

It was out of sight 65 feet up in the air, not sure you want to "decorate" your entire FB with that.

At airports they use air cannons that go BOOM on a timer... works too. Not sure your neighborhood would like that.