Mister E
Well-known member
I have noticed that there seems to be a lot less seabirds this year.
I am wondering if it as a result of Bird Flu?
I am wondering if it as a result of Bird Flu?
Turdstones!! Well thats we call them!
- Thread starter mickywillis
- Start date
Beneteau381
Well-known member
Sigh!
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
So if I do anything to prevent a mosquito from sucking my blood can I be charged with abusing a mosquito and taken to court.
What about sharks eating seals or worse a human is that called wildlife crime. The shark becomes a murderer
I am all for protecting wildlife and I go to the game parks quite often to see wildlife but where is the limit ?
What about sharks eating seals or worse a human is that called wildlife crime. The shark becomes a murderer
I am all for protecting wildlife and I go to the game parks quite often to see wildlife but where is the limit ?
B27
Well-known member
You could eff off back to Surrey?
MontyMariner
Well-known member
They now stop you taking your gun in.
mickywillis
Well-known member
Thats a bit unnecessary??
Scomber
Active member
. All things come from that faraway place, either originating directly from that governing part which is common to all, or else following from it as consequences. So even the gaping jaws of the lion, deadly poison, and all harmful things like thorns or an oozing bog are products of that awesome and noble source. Do not imagine these things to be alien to that which you revere, but turn your Reason to the source of all things
Marcus Aurelius
johnalison
Well-known member
Apart from wilful cruelty and sheer thoughtlessness, which we naturally deplore, the limit is for me primarily determined by matters of conservation. I don’t believe that turnstone numbers are threatened, but it might be a different matter if it were turtle doves that were being a nuisance. As the Beeb’s recent superb series on Big Cats has shown, the life of any wild creature is essentially one of misery, living in abject fear of either being eaten or starvation almost continuously. Thus, the death of a wild creature could almost be regarded as merciful if it weren’t for the cod-philosophical point that all life is interconnected and that not only our pleasure but our survival depends on a healthy wild.
B27
Well-known member
Seriously, if you can't live with the birds in Langstone and Chichester, you may not be welcome.
There's another nice little harbour down the road called Pagham.
You're already not welcome there!
I was not being entirely serious, but there is a large, influential group of people who would be quite happy to send the OP and his boat back to M25-land, maybe he can have a go at Ken Livingstone's pigeons?
Or there's always Port Solent with the Paulsgrove tip gulls.
There's another nice little harbour down the road called Pagham.
You're already not welcome there!
I was not being entirely serious, but there is a large, influential group of people who would be quite happy to send the OP and his boat back to M25-land, maybe he can have a go at Ken Livingstone's pigeons?
Or there's always Port Solent with the Paulsgrove tip gulls.
fredrussell
Well-known member
The best way to get rid of turnstones is to turn over the stones yourself. They soon lose interest in an area once all the stones have been turned.
Bristolfashion
Well-known member
Yes, but then you get a plague of Turnembackstones!
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
I wholehearted agree and I financially support our equivalent to the RSPCA and RSPB which is our SPCA and when I visit any game parks my entry fee goes to directly conversation.
To answer another comment, I do not own or have ever owned a gun or a firearm and would never take one to a game park or other wildlife refuge. I go to support and enjoy the wildlife alive
greeny
Well-known member
Graham_Wright
Well-known member
In our previous mooring, pigeons would perch on the cross trees. I tied some strings across threaded with plastic cylinders (left over from a job).
When the pigeons tried to land on them, they did a 180. Very satisfying!
When the pigeons tried to land on them, they did a 180. Very satisfying!
mickywillis
Well-known member
Been in Langstone with a boat for18 years now, so bugger off with your officious ramblings. If you read the read the post properly, you'd see I say its the worst its been this year, so yes I am used to it and yes I've coped quite happily previously. BTW Ken Livingstone is NOT the Mayor of London, Epsom isn't in London and where would you suggest I keep my boat in Epsom?? Get your facts straight before you comment..
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Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
They’ve recently put new pilings in for our pontoon, which have conical tops. Our lovely cormorants have moved on, along with their massive turds. We have wagtails who roost in our halyard tails. Cumulatively they produce quite a bit, it’s just in small doses.
B27
Well-known member
The locals may be getting better at training the birds to shit on the DFL boats.
William_H
Well-known member
Back to the serious questionb posted by OP. The more you use your boat the less likely it will become a home for birds. Areal problem here in spring is gulls building nest in cockpit. But apart from that yes a real mess on cabin top and cockpit seats. Water will soften it after a while but a chisle is needed rfor the hard stuff. One really useful device I have found is an old flannel (face washer) witha hole in one corner and a long cord attached. I throw it overboard to wet it then scrub the mess. Throw it over board to rinse and do the same again. Justs one week from relaunch after winter at home and mess was horrible. Another week and another mess.
So it is all a question of priorities of your effort. If you can find the energy to string wires across over the deck (with old CDs even better) Mount a dummy owl or eagle or lay a rubber snake coiled these will/ may help. Some people have a huge rotating arm with wind cups which protect large flat areas.
Do not use a net. There is nothing so horrible as getting to your boat to find a half dead sea gull with foot trapped in net. Unless you go for very fine net strung very high so sides near vertical.
So it is all matter of setting up detraction after coming back from sailing. My problem is that at that stage all I want to do is get off the boat and go home. So for me I just clean the boat before sailing. (partially clean might be more correct) ol'will
So it is all a question of priorities of your effort. If you can find the energy to string wires across over the deck (with old CDs even better) Mount a dummy owl or eagle or lay a rubber snake coiled these will/ may help. Some people have a huge rotating arm with wind cups which protect large flat areas.
Do not use a net. There is nothing so horrible as getting to your boat to find a half dead sea gull with foot trapped in net. Unless you go for very fine net strung very high so sides near vertical.
So it is all matter of setting up detraction after coming back from sailing. My problem is that at that stage all I want to do is get off the boat and go home. So for me I just clean the boat before sailing. (partially clean might be more correct) ol'will
Seashoreman
Well-known member
I have had success with Hum Line, similar to this: Bird Scarer Humming Line for Garden.
Drawback is the setting up and removing. Can also attract complaints from sensitive neighbours.
Friend has similar to this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flying-Falcon-Garden-Control-Deterrent/dp/B084SYZQ88
on a pole on his swinging mooring. Seems to think it really works.
Drawback is the setting up and removing. Can also attract complaints from sensitive neighbours.
Friend has similar to this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flying-Falcon-Garden-Control-Deterrent/dp/B084SYZQ88
on a pole on his swinging mooring. Seems to think it really works.
oldharry
Well-known member
I had the same problems in neighbouring Chichester Harbour. It seems to have become much worse in the last eight years or so. I tried many different remedies. Hum lines were very successful for a couple of years but then the birds seem to realise it wasn't an issue and returned. Strips of foil tape blowing in the breeze worked,but again only for a while.
Hanging black rubbish sacks strategically round the boat seemed the most effective. Large black object moving at random helped keep them off.
What annoyed me most was arriving at the boat to be greeted by hostile glares from the resident Turnstones, who would shuffle en mass round the other side, making it very Clear you were unwelcome and they had no intention of leaving!
Hanging black rubbish sacks strategically round the boat seemed the most effective. Large black object moving at random helped keep them off.
What annoyed me most was arriving at the boat to be greeted by hostile glares from the resident Turnstones, who would shuffle en mass round the other side, making it very Clear you were unwelcome and they had no intention of leaving!