Effective Gull Scarer

[Helidan]

I really don't want a repeat of last year which seemed to be a constant battle against the gulls sitting up on the canopy doing their business!!! So, out of all the various bird deterrent options which one is argued to be about the best? Very grateful for any help with this one!!

 

[William_H]

It is a real problem. Much depends on how much gear you are prepared to set up before leaving the boat. In my case none as I use it weekly. (and put up with mess) However people use a rotating arm that rotates in the wind. Wires stretched taught over the area will discourage them. I have seen dummy owls used but am not sure the fear lasts long. Beware of using a net as the gulls can get their feet tangled in net. There is nothing worse than having a dead gull or worse a live one tangled. ol'will

 

[KompetentKrew]

A friend of mine swears by a couple of rubber snakes which she leaves around the deck and cockpit.

The kind you got from the gift shoppe at the zoo when you were a kid, although no doubt they're cheaper on Amazon / eBay / AliExpress these days.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

It is a real problem. Much depends on how much gear you are prepared to set up before leaving the boat. In my case none as I use it weekly. (and put up with mess) However people use a rotating arm that rotates in the wind. Wires stretched taught over the area will discourage them. I have seen dummy owls used but am not sure the fear lasts long. Beware of using a net as the gulls can get their feet tangled in net. There is nothing worse than having a dead gull or worse a live one tangled. ol'will

The advice to keep herons out of garden ponds is to use monofilament nylon line (fishing line). I think the reasoning is that although the birds can't see it, encountering an unseen obstacle on attempting to land on a distinctive surface will "teach" them that such surfaces are to be avoided and have an effect even if the line is not there. .

When I have had this problem, I have strung lines between mast, shrouds and backstay.

 

[Neeves]

A seagull detergent is a bit like antifoul - they work - as long as you use your boat frequently.

Antarctic's remedy works very well - but if they find a way through the web you weave - they will access some part or other of the boat. However the big problem with the idea is that you can hardly have a web of virtually invisible garrottes across the deck - and use the boat frequently. Dummy owls are joke - the gulls soon identify they are not a threat. Rotating arms (as per Old Wil) or spiky things are really good - but you cannot cover your whole yacht with them.

Move your own location, mooring, from neighbours that do not use their boats. Mooring Minders attract gulls, who then look for an overspill - other yachts near by. Don't be the yacht nearby. Mooring Minders also become floating nurseries for fouling and when the foulings spawn - guess where the youngsters go - the nearest hull - don't be the nearest hull.

Gulls like stability - use the boat and they will find somewhere else to live. Use the boat and the, marine, fouings don't have time to adhere.

You could buy a cat - but then you would need to visit the yacht daily to feed the poor mite. I also suspect that if the kit catches a seagull the mess might not be acceptable.

Its part of the price of boat ownership, use it (the boat I mean).

Jonathan

 

[ChromeDome]

A friend of mine swears by a couple of rubber snakes which she leaves around the deck and cockpit.

The kind you got from the gift shoppe at the zoo when you were a kid, although no doubt they're cheaper on Amazon / eBay / AliExpress these days.

Works 90% for me. Need to be at least real size rubber snakes and to be moved now and then. Sun/snow/rain will damage them so annual replacement improves the result.

 

[Dellquay13]

I had a small motorboat in a marina surrounded by yachts, and it was the only boat around without a myriad of poles and wires. The Seagulls loved it for it’s flat surfaces and easy landings and takeoffs. Guano everywhere especially on the pram hood.

I used 2 lengths of fishing line in a V from the coachroof steaming light pole to a pair of 2m lengths of 20mm plastic conduit quick mounted in each stern quarter, and was never troubled again.

I cable tied 2 plastic conduit saddles to the aux outboard bracket on one quarter and 2 to the boarding ladder on the other stern quarter and the poles would just drop in to a preset point. I used fishing sinker clip links on the line for quick setup and stored it wrapped round a plastic castellated disc for fishing hook rigs. It took about 2 mins to rig up and down.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

You can get electric bird scarers that make bird distress calls.
I had one for a while and it worked, but used more power than was available and gave it away in the end...
I used to have big issues but less of a problem recently.

Use your boat more is the best way.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

This is what I had, although I did not pay anything lake that much for it 20 years ago...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-X-Bir...8&psc=1&mcid=050910721c91328da3cb0130ada94f89

 

[lydiamight]

 

[AntarcticPilot]

View attachment 173270

I presume you intend to connect it to an AI aiming device that you've trained on seagulls?

 

[Boathook]

It is a real problem. Much depends on how much gear you are prepared to set up before leaving the boat. In my case none as I use it weekly. (and put up with mess) However people use a rotating arm that rotates in the wind. Wires stretched taught over the area will discourage them. I have seen dummy owls used but am not sure the fear lasts long. Beware of using a net as the gulls can get their feet tangled in net. There is nothing worse than having a dead gull or worse a live one tangled. ol'will

I've seen gulls perched on the head of a dummy owl as it was in the same place all the time. The bird of prey lure that swings / glides around at random in the slightest breeze seem work for a while as well, but gulls soon learn.
I've seen a video clip (can't remember where) of a gull walking into a shop and taking a sandwich package and then walking out with it.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

They aren't bothered by bird of prey kites; on another similar post I put a photo of gulls flying round a realistic hawk kite!

 

[veshengro]

A short lived experiment I tried last Autumn before my boat was hauled out for the winter which was briefly successful. The target was the Gulls who perch along the stainless rails around the cockpit. I tried fishing line strung just above the rails but they took to landing on the cockpit seats until at someone else's suggestion I left some old Compact Discs shiney side up scattered on the seats.
Boat was clean after the few times I went out to her before she was hauled out. Theory is the feathered fiends catch sight of reflected movement below as they hover to land and abort touch down. How long it would take them to suss out there was nothing to worry about and put their big 'orrible webbed feet down I don't know, but I'll give it another go in a month or so after re-launch.