What do you make of this?

[tome]

Just returned from the boat. We've had a lot of attention from the purple pooping starlings in the past few weeks, and my neighbour handed me a note of complaint he'd written to the marina management. Brief extract:-

"This year is the worst we have ever experienced...and we will not tolerate the situation any longer.

"You and your staff are quite aware of the problem but appear to be taking no action and hoping it will pass and we will all forget it for yet another season."

The letter goes on in this vein, and goes on to suggest a number of solutions including a "...taped broadcast facility but with a proper starling distress call. He also suggest firing a starting pistol every time these birds start to flock.

The letter is copied to us and various neighbours. Though I find it a nuisance (to say the least), is it right to blame the marina management? How should I react to such a letter which has my name on it?

I'd be interested to hear what people make of this.

Regards
Tom

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[Guest]

Did you give permission for your name to be on it ?

I know the bird problem is terrible - I had a cormorant who insisted on using my masttop as a dinner point.

Short of shooting the s...... what can you do ?


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[oldharry]

Starlings are amongst the worst pests - and amongst the most difficult to get rid of, so I do feel its a bit unfair to lay all the blame on the marina management. On the other hand, a request that they take steps to protect the boats from this menace is not unreasonable.

As to placing your name on this 'petition' without your permission or knowledge, your friend has left himself wide open to a range of accusations from misrepresentation to simply lying to the management by using your name.

The management in the circumstances would be quite justified in telling him to get lost and cancelling his berthing contract.

Up to you whether you want to 'shop' him, and more importantly whether you want to be associated with the line of quite strong attack that he has chosen to take. Whether you agree that the management should take some action or not is irrelevant: do you agree with the way he has handled it? If not, you need to cover yourself by telling him in writing that you do not support the way he has tackled this problem, and remind him he does not have your permission to use your name in this protest. Copy to the Marina Management, if you feel strongly enough about it.


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[toad]

Do you think i can complain to the Harbour Master about the barnacles that seem to grow on my boat?

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[DanTribe]

This sounds like an example of the increasing attitude of "why don't THEY do something about it". It's not my responsibility & I'll find somebody to blame".
Dan

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[pvb]

Read Tom\'s post again...

As I read it, and I'm sure Tom will correct me if I'm wrong, his neighbour simply wrote a letter and sent a copy to Tom for information ("The letter is copied to us and various neighbours."). Nothing wrong with that. If Tom agrees with the sentiment, he could write to the marina and say so, and that would help to convince the marina that action might be required.

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[andyball]

Eh? He's a bloomin' cheek putting other peoples names on his own letter.

"they" (marina staff) have actually been trying to do something about it anyway.....several weeks ago we heard a few loud cracks late pm & asked about it; turned out that when flocks were noticed late in the day a starting pistol type thing was being fired to discourage them....the idea being that shooting blanks all day would be annoying & that the worst pooping resulted from overnight stays in rigging...so clear 'em late pm & it's much better.

Tell your "pal" they've been doing exactly what he says they haven't . imo any more wd be annoying to those who spend a bit of time at the marina & cd do without constant bird scaring noises. Put corn on his coachroof I say.

For the record, it's an mdl marina at Northney & in this as in other ways I've found the staff happy to go that bit further to keep things sweet for the customers.

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[Guest]

Not so clear about name on ??

How should I react to such a letter which has my name on it?

Not really clear if his name is ON or OFF ????


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[tome]

Nigel

My name is on the "cc" list so in fairness he hasn't represented me directly to the marina management. However, it does appear that we are somehow 'in' on his protest by implication/association.

regards
Tom




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[tome]

Andy

See my reply to Nigel Luther re using my name.

I must say I agree with you about the staff at Northney - they couldn't be more helpful. I'd also heard from elsewhere about the starting pistol and we'd probably all be complaining if it went off constantly.

It seems to be the consensus that we can't blame the marina staff for this nuisance, and I agree with this. The fact that they are trying to do something about it, even if it's not entirely effective, seems to demonstrate their commitment.

Let's hope the starlings find somewhere else to go - I gather Hyde is pretty good this time of year (just joking Jimi)!

Regards
Tom

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[Oldhand]

I don't know which marina you are in but both Lymington marinas tried bird-scarers for a few days, during thier second hand boat shows ofcourse. In the one I'm in it just moved the starlings further down the pontoon so the situation was worse for some. One noise broadcast actually caused the starlings to fly closer to the source! The noise of the bird scarers was terrible and I should think the local residents were up in arms causing this effort to cease.

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[kimhollamby]

Owl at Port Solent

Had to do a double take two weeks back...locking in at Port Solent and saw a large bearded man with a fairly hefty owl on his arm walking up to the the lock control office...all a bit Harry Potteresque.

Finally woke up to the thought that the marina might be using the owl to give lesser feathered types a scare?

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[qsiv]

Berthons, if I recall correctly, used to use a bird of prey call from a speaker on the corner of the building that houyses the dockmasters, brokerage and 'facilities'. I dont know how effective it was, mind you.

I keep telling the boys that European elephants learned years ago that by painting their toenails pink, they could hide in rose bushes. Younger one keeps saying that he's never seen an elephant - just shows how effective the camo is, says I. They still dont know whether to believe that the ice cream van only plays it's tune to let every one know he's run out, and also that we are in a blackspot for satellite reception.... The elder boy is confused now because, during a rather heavy run to school, he couldnt prove that life is not just a dream - ',but Daddy' he says 'how do I know my life is my dream, and not a part of somebody elses dream?'. At that point I ducked, turned the radio up, and wondered whether 8 wasn't a trifle young to be worrying about existential philosophy!

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[Guest]

Unfortunate !

I think I would distance myself from the letter - Northney may be fair - but it is also known that some marinas have been a bit on the uncooperative side after complaints etc.

I would consider a plastic owl or hawk perched on boat somewhere ..... !!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[Magic_Sailor]

Typical of todays blame culture

The idea that anybody is to blame for birds flocking and pooping is laughable.

Therefore, the idea that anybody should be responsible for "doing something about a natural phenomena is equally laughable.

Perhaps we should blame harbourmasters for all those nasty seagull things.
Blame Lord Montagu for all those squelchy jely fish in Beaulieu River

What rubbish.

Magic

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[Peppermint]

Re: Yes you can blame the staff

if they, the staff, are pooping on your decks otherwise is it not the duty of "the master under god" to overcome natural hazards?

If the HM is trying to do something it's as likely to be because the crap gets on his car or the pontoons or office windows. I wish him every fortune but I know that airfields spend a kings ransome on this kind of thing and have limited success.

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[jimi]

Re: Owl at Port Solent

That wiz TwistedKen and his latest burd!

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[castaway]

Re: Yes you can blame the staff

Wish I could swap the Cormorants that roost on my spreaders for a few teeny weeny Starlings!!!

I moor at Wicor marine on the downstream moorings, and this year has been awful!

I can assure any one that Plastic owls are a waste of time and CDs strung around the rigs likewise.

On the list for this winter is stainless steel MIG welding wire with some spring tensioners strung along the top sides of the spreaders.... I hope these fat seagoing Turkeys will get the message.

Its not so much what comes out the aft end but what comes from the front.. If I cud bottle it I would use it as a resin substitute...

Nick

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtsite.co.uk/fairweather>http://www.yachtsite.co.uk/fairweather</A>

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[Will_M]

Not as a direct action of our local marina.... Or is it??

A very local to the marina bird wildlife place brings their 'birds of pray' into the marina and close by open areas, fields etc to fly/exercise?

Its not a frequent event, but you know when they are around, because theres nothing else flying in the area!

But really I ask you.. To blame the marine operators for what is after all a natural thing. Is the letter writer of sound mind?

That reminds me I must complain to someone about my car getting over dirty when driving, after all surely someone sound have cleaned the roads before hand!!!

LOL.

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[jamesjermain]

Torquay solution

Torquay Marina - part of the MDL conglomerate - broadcasts the danger warning cry of seagulls over the pontoons are frequent intervals. The nolise actually blends in quite well with the general hubbub. I cannot say how effective it has been but there don't seem to be as many seagulls around as there were. Certainly those that are on the pontoons when the cry sounds, take flight pronto.

Thought:- do they s**t themselves with fear as they take off?

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ