Bird Deterrents

[At Sea]

Boat on top rack of dry stack. A nice perch for the seagull community.

So, any advice on effective deterrents to keep the pesky birds at bay???

 

[sarabande]

Small electric fencer unit by Gallacher.

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/gallagher-b10-battery-fencing-energiser

Rig a convenient 'perch' before you stack, and attach the fencer unit. Lasts 6 weeks on a set of D batteries. If adjacent boats on the top use a similar-looking perch, they will all be gull free as the blighters learn quickly

 

[Tiger Rag]

I seem to find that my personality and looks are usually enough.

 

[Seastoke]

12 bore or a photo of kawasaki

 

[Aja]

Seems to run on 12V

Donald

 

[NoviceRod]

You could try one of these: https://www.deck-guard.com/

I used one, but as 43% of the population can hear ultrasonics I had some complaints from neighbours. This shouldn't be an issue in a drystack.

Solar powered, so no 12V needed

 

[Zing]

Small electric fencer unit by Gallacher.

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/gallagher-b10-battery-fencing-energiser

Rig a convenient 'perch' before you stack, and attach the fencer unit. Lasts 6 weeks on a set of D batteries. If adjacent boats on the top use a similar-looking perch, they will all be gull free as the blighters learn quickly

Have you tested it on a boat? It would be good if the mast and guard rails could be wired up and if mast paint would not prevent a shock. I suppose it would insulate though? A ground wire would need removing first. Maybe problems from arcing?

 

[snowbird30ds]

A few hungry eastern europeans should do the trick.

 

[jfm]

You could try one of these: https://www.deck-guard.com/

I used one, but as 43% of the population can hear ultrasonics I had some complaints from neighbours. This shouldn't be an issue in a drystack.

Solar powered, so no 12V needed

Thanks. I just ordered that online. They ship to uk. I'll report back in a while. I currently have string from bow to hard top, to deter seagulls while the boot is berthed. The string works will but this gizmo is easier to deploy. The gulls hunt in packs where I am so you get no droppings if lucky and 30kg if unlucky. Nothing in between.

 

[BruceK]

You could try one of these: https://www.deck-guard.com/

I used one, but as 43% of the population can hear ultrasonics I had some complaints from neighbours. This shouldn't be an issue in a drystack.

Solar powered, so no 12V needed

I fail to see how that would scare birds considering they dont hear in ultrasonics. Their hearing frequency range is much like ours.

 

[BruceK]

I fail to see how that would scare birds considering they dont hear in ultrasonics. Their hearing frequency range is much like ours.

https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/39870/PDF

Mmm, studies show they have even poorer hearing than us. See conclusions

 

[WhiskeyTownRacer]

I fail to see how that would scare birds considering they dont hear in ultrasonics. Their hearing frequency range is much like ours.

Their website is confused on this too. Two models, apparently with differing types of operation. The how it works blurb states this:

"Deck-Guard has been specifically designed to emit frequencies at 30kHz to 55kHz, the level of frequency that deters birds of all sizes.
These frequencies (aside from predatory units) are completely undetectable by most humans, dogs, and even cats"

Yet the individual product descriptions both state:

"Ultrasound: Broadcasts at a frequency range of 10-20 Khz"

An ultrasonic device that operates at frequencies which are by definition not ultrasonic. Rather odd, though perhaps I'm missing something obvious and/or being stupid.

 

[Cymrogwyllt]

Rapidly moving pieces of lead should deter them

 

[sarabande]

Have you tested it on a boat? It would be good if the mast and guard rails could be wired up and if mast paint would not prevent a shock. I suppose it would insulate though? A ground wire would need removing first. Maybe problems from arcing?

If you have two parallel tracks like a small railway line, and 1 to Live and 1 to Earth, you can place the fencer well away from any boat electrics, rather like a TV aerial. No arcing, it's only about 5000 volts.

 

[At Sea]

Some interesting thoughts.

Has anyone tried the Scaregull rotating vanes? http://www.scaregull.com/howitworks/

 

[Salty John]

Ultrasonic devices to deter birds have been pretty much discredited in recent years. There are no birds that can hear sounds above 20 KHz, and most in the 1 - 5 KHz range.
Many years ago you could get rat deterrents based on ultrasonics but they were eventually abandoned as useless. I worked for a company that sold such a device.

 

[At Sea]

I am also curious to know if this would work: https://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-humm-line-bird-scarer-tape.html?sqr=humm&

 

[BruceK]

About the only thing that is guaranteed to work is a coarse / large diameter mesh nylon (fishing) line net or fishing line strands across the boat at least six inches above the surface. The gulls will not land if they suspect they might entangle their wings.

 

[Corribee Boy]

I am also curious to know if this would work: https://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-humm-line-bird-scarer-tape.html?sqr=humm&

I don't know if birds won't tolerate the noise, but it's fairly intolerable for anyone trying to sleep on a nearby yacht! It seems to echo through the hull.

 

[Kawasaki]

12 bore or a photo of kawasaki

Hey, yer not too wrong seastoke, back in the Day they used flock around me, now they depart rapidly and in perfect formation
Dunna ken if its My missing teeth, the bad breath or my girth
Probably the combination of all!