Keep Pest Birds off Your Boat

If you enjoy boating, you’re probably well aware that birds such as seagulls, cormorants, and even pigeons love using masts, spreaders and canvases as waterfront perches. It’s a situation that happens all too often: a boat owner plans to take the vessel out for a day of enjoyment, only to find it covered in bird droppings. Some boat owners are finding themselves spending a significant amount of time cleaning up before launch.

Steps

  1. Place deterrent items that move or sway in the wind on the high points of the boat to keep your boat bird-free. Birds prefer the high points on a vessel, but will also land on a protective canvas. Birds rely heavily on visual clues in their environment helping with flight, the detection of predators, food sources, etc, and moving, flapping objects will discourage birds from flying near or landing. Items called the Bird Spider, spikes, Scare Balloon, flash tape or a solar bird repeller. Simply placing a decoy of a bird-of-prey (such as an owl) on your vessel has been known to be an effective deterrent in keeping other birds away. If your vessel has a "Windex" style wind-direction indicator at the top of the mast, be sure to use the "bird spike" piece of hardware included to prevent birds perching on (and breaking) your Windex.[1]
  2. Place visual clues such as reflective items around the boat.[2]
  3. String a monofilament fishing line or cable above the masts and spreaders to deter birds from landing. The birds do not like the instability of landing on the wire, and so they move on to a more inviting perch.[3]

Tips

  • Snow fencing works wonders. It is far easier to clean up than fishing line, and is very cheap. Take regular snow fencing double it up to get the width right, and use standard clothesline (1/4" nylon) threaded through the holes to anchor it in four places. Snap shackles can be bought to make it easier to put on and take off.
  • Remember to keep birds in mind when winterizing your boat. An undisturbed boat in a marina can become a favorite perch or winter home for resident bird species. Taping a plastic bag over the ends of your mast (if you unstep the mast for the winter) and boom will keep birds out.
  • While it does not prevent birds from landing in the first place, keeping your boat well waxed will help prevent damage from bird droppings.

Related Articles

  • Find Your Way Through a Maze

References

  1. Jump up ↑ https://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/birds/default.asp
  2. Jump up ↑ http://www.birdsandblooms.com/blog/a-shiny-solution-to-deter-birds-from-fruit-trees/
  3. Jump up ↑ https://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/birds/default.asp
Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Keep_Pest_Birds_off_Your_Boat&oldid=305180"