Boom tits

Cantata

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Dear Marge,
I have blue tits apparently living in my boom. They aren't blue because of the cold, you understand, but because they are blue tits.
Being someone who is kind to animals and old ladies, and even forumites, how can I persuade them (the blue tits) to move on without upsetting my sensitivities?
If they are still there in the Spring and the little ble*ders start procreating they are going to have a rotten time when the single-line reefing railway is operating.
What a worry, and Christmas coming soon as well.
 
Dear Marge,
I have blue tits apparently living in my boom. They aren't blue because of the cold, you understand, but because they are blue tits.
Being someone who is kind to animals and old ladies, and even forumites, how can I persuade them (the blue tits) to move on without upsetting my sensitivities?
If they are still there in the Spring and the little ble*ders start procreating they are going to have a rotten time when the single-line reefing railway is operating.
What a worry, and Christmas coming soon as well.

they tend to huddle together overnight in cold weather your boom may be just a Dorm
 
They have been having a sleep in my sail, not impressed very messy. Going down today to put some plastic mesh in the end of the sail cover to stop them.

Reckon Marina needs a big hungry cat.
 
I have an occasional resident in the end of my sail bag - craps on the sail :( Sometimes I remember to block it up. I intend to sew some velcro inside so I can fix a bit of canvas across the end.
 
I was advised my a sail maker to stuff (technical expression) a bit of bubble wrap in the end of the boom.

That sounds a good wheeze, thanks Marge. Hope they haven't invited all their friends by the time I get back. Imagine them all in there in a line, could be about 100 of them, too bad if the one furthest from the entrance needs a wee - oh no, they won't worry about that will they...
 
Our moorings on the Medway are close to an area of land covered in bushes that produce masses of berries late summer into the autumn. The local birds feast on them and then use the boats to sit on and digest them and get rid of their waste. A number of us have started putting plastic Owls on our boats and it has made a massive difference. No need to clean the boat now before we even sit in the cockpit. An Owl may keep the Blue tits away.
 
Tits returning this afternoon will find a hefty wodge of bubble-wrap barring the way. I do hope they weren't at home when I did it!
 
Pigeon farm

For the last 3 seasons, we've had a pigeon nesting & laying eggs in our chain locker on our boat in Salcott Creek. Must have Houdini abilities be get in/out when the lid is closed (see photo). Has been known to come along for the trip for a while, but usually bails out quite soon after we set off.

I usually plop the eggs over the side :o just before we anchor - don't want 'em breaking in there - but the following weekend she's laid again...
 
Took the sails off this am. On unrolling the mizzen, which was folded in in the stack-bag, I found that birds had been roosting in the rear of the sail ! The rear of the bag is open, so easy entry.

There had been no evidence externally, but the little b-----s had been pooing inside the sail !!!! I imagine that its quite cosy in the sail compared to sitting on a branch when it's below freezing.

2 hours of cleaning to almost remove the evidence.

I now have to think of a 'sealing' flap to stop reoccurance :-)

A
 
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