Bird Deterrent

Hi All,

I'm just about to put up a sat TV dome and I'm looking for a good bird deterrent (dome is an Intellian I3). Thanks for all suggestions.

A couple of patterns of #9 bird shot would be my suggestion.

Ted

Greetings,
Mr. R. Some ideas... https://www.birdbusters.com/ https://www.birdbgone.com/

The PO had put those spiky things on the top as was mentioned by RTF. They word really well.

I also added one of those annoying shiny streamers to one of my VHF antennas. That has made a big different. I'm going to get another to put on the other side.

I have had really good success with the spyder type of deterrent. They come in 4' and 8' diameter I think.

I have found the sea swallows that love to perch and nest on our boats here in Qld, Oz, aren't phased at all by hawks, owls, rubber snakes or anything like that. What I have found works to stop them roosting along ledges etc is to stick strips of a suitable length of the brush bordered draft stopper type of thing one would normally stick to the bottom of a door, but pointing upwards, so an even more humane form of spike, if you like, but way cheaper too.
Looks like this. https://www.doorseal.com.au/door-and-window-seals/rp83-brush-strip-seal-1

Comodave said:

I have had really good success with the spyder type of deterrent. They come in 4' and 8' diameter I think.

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I have considered those as well. It would help on the areas of the boat that are further away from the streamers. I would just have to remember to store them when I take off as I normally don't pilot from the flybridge.

gaston said:

FOUR PACK OF HOT FOOT REPELLENT GEL

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Interesting. Pity about the price. I wonder if you can get single tubes of it?

I've used and had pretty good results with one of those solar powered ultra.sonic repelants. - Bird-X if I recall correctly - Motion detector built in.
Mine lasted about 2 seasons and currently on my second one.
We have swallows that are the prime culprets.

Monofilament line, stretched across likely landing/takeoff locations. They will avoid snagging on that. They'll also stay away from where there's a dead bird lying around. They'll get used to just about any other deterrent after a while.

In my teenage "terrible days" I shot sparrows off my parent's TV antennae with a Sheridan pellet gun with iron sights. Fed the birds to my cat.

All animals end up as food for someone else. It's called recycling.

I agree with Capt. Tom's post #11 The birds can't see the monofilament, not only it keeps them from landing, but it scares them when they bump into it in flight so they don't try again.
In fact I have to stretch some over my handrails, a Great Blue Heron is using them for a latrine seat, if he would perch so his tail squirts over into the water instead of onto my decks he would be welcome aboard!

Hi All,

Thanks for all the responses. Ted, the bird shot is a fine idea, I'm just not here all the time to apply it... (not to mention that a local YC commodore was nearly taken out by a sheriff's SWAT team after using a shotgun to signal the end of a race...)

RT Firefly, thanks for the Birdbusters.com link. I think the Hot foot Gel is the perfect solution but I agree that it's a bit pricey. There is, however, a similar product on the Birdbusters website called Bird Gel Repellent. It might not be quite as good but does come in a single tube for $20.50 and I'll give it a try.

Thanks again!

I have had some success with the spider type, usually fighting Ospreys. Best solution so far is a hose connected to a sprinkler with a motion detector. Only drawback is the water must be on 24-7, need a good quality hose. I lashed a pole to a bimini strut with the sprinkler extending about a foot above the bimini. Birds landing activate the sprinkler, which turns off after a partial rotation. Nesting Osprey are unbelievably persistent but this works.
I wonder if those sticky mouse pads would work, much less expensive that the Gel repellant.

Ditto to post #11. Use light monofilament and you will not see it. Works like a charm!

Peter B said:

I have found the sea swallows that love to perch and nest on our boats here in Qld, Oz, aren't phased at all by hawks, owls, rubber snakes or anything like that. What I have found works to stop them roosting along ledges etc is to stick strips of a suitable length of the brush bordered draft stopper type of thing one would normally stick to the bottom of a door, but pointing upwards, so an even more humane form of spike, if you like, but way cheaper too.
Looks like this. https://www.doorseal.com.au/door-and-window-seals/rp83-brush-strip-seal-1

Click to expand...

Wouldn`t the swallows just use the brush to wipe their bottoms after they poop on the boat?
We find multi streamer type thingies help up fwd. Along the sides under the covered walkways we have a large black plastic bag, opened up, clipped on the top studs which hold our breeze side window covers. Tuck them up top when using the boat, leave the dropped down to flap when not.

No, they don't Bruce. They clearly prefer them not there, so the brushy ends must irritate their wee bottoms, and they leave. The beauty of these strips is they are permanent, but virtually invisible (or look like part of the structure), and don't flap about, look ugly, and annoy the heck out of everyone else. I'll take some pics of them when down next. It's not something I've thought to photograph before.

"...wee bottoms..." Hee, hee, hee...

dhays said:

The PO had put those spiky things on the top as was mentioned by RTF. They word really well.
..

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A friend installed them on his canvas top. The birds still roosted on the top, they just hopped over the spike strips.

WesK said:

A friend installed them on his canvas top. The birds still roosted on the top, they just hopped over the spike strips.

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I wouldn't use them on a large area. Mine are on the top of the TV antenna. No room for the birds to hop around.

Mean and hungry cat.