Is this the answer to stopping Starling poo?

Sans Bateau

Sans Bateau

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Just bought some of these and will be fixing them to the top of my mast over the weekend prior to having it restepped. OK its untried on a boat but if the little bu99ers cant land they cant poo on my deck whilst chatting to each other.


Starling spikes
 
It would be interesting to hear in the blackberry season whether its worked. I've certainly noticed other birds that visit without using the spreaders (swallows, wagtails and seagulls) but I've always suspected starlings or possibly other songbirds to be the prime culprits in our neck of the woods. Except for the Cormorant.
 
starlings certainly do in Chichester Harbour too; but the flattish horizontal bits seems first-choice, leaving shrouds etc for them that can't find room.
 
I have only seen them on the very top of my mast. Of course with all the effort I am about to engage to stop the damnd things, this year the top will be clear but the backstay shrouds and spreaders will be the prefered destination!
 
I remember, a couple of years ago now, sitting in the cockpit in Camper & Nic's marina, Gosport (yes I know it's not called that these days) watching the sun go down, glass in hand. In the next row, there were several yachts. Some big, some not quite so big, some with carrier bags flying at half mast: most were bare. A flock of starlings descended on the marina, mostly around one particular yacht. When that was full, with maybe not quite a hundred starlings in the rigging, they occupied her neighbours. This yacht was large, with three sets of spreaders and a dark coloured hull. sI think she also had some carrier bags halfway up the mast.

The answer then appeared to be, if they like your boat, or the one you're parked next to, then you're stuffed. The marina then played lots of seagull braying noises that are apparently designed to frighten little songbirds away. A bit like telling a cat "don't to do that" and with the same results. After the sun went down they all flew off to their roosting tree for the night. Imagine the state of the decks if they'd stayed there all night!

So, if you really have found something that works, either tell us or start up a business. It would be the proverbial better mousetrap. Good luck!
 
Indeed, I wasn't trying to discourage you, rather to encourage you to tell us how you get on. I'm lucky in not being a "chosen" boat all that often, except when the Cormorant's favourite perch is out sailing. Or it's blackberry season.
 
much simpler:

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shotgun.jpg
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mmm, though of that Ian, but at 50 odd feet I think a shot gun might do more harm than good, even a skeet gun!

Mike at the end of the pontoon to us had someone (working for the marina?) shoot a pigeon that was making a mess on the top of his flybridge cover. They got the pigeon alright, hell they bleed though! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
And what's the first thing a bird does when it's panicked? You guessed it.....

[/ QUOTE ]

Ligten the load for take off? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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