Stop Birds

[rossjo]

What is an affective way to keep Seagulls, Pelicans, Blackbirds, etc. from roosting on my boat and dock? I have an Owl hung between two dock posts, but they roost within 15-20' of the Owl anyway, and the droppings are a nightmare to cleanup.

I've seen dozen's of products, including the big inflatable eyes, but wonder what really works?

[chumwithabottleofrum]

Ross-I have had that problem on Lake Erie (Ashtabula) with some small birds-not sure what they were. I used twine and aluminum tape (not duct tape but aluminum tape). I would fold a 4-5" piece of the tape over the twine at 6" spacing. I made a string of this that was approximately 20' long and ran it across my bow rails (they were roosting on the rails and crapping all over the front of my boat). While this was somewhat unsightly it seemed to do the trick. This was my solution when I could not find pinwheels at the local Wal Mart. I believe that metailicized moving objects will keep them away. Have you tried rubber snakes in addtion to the blow up owls? I understand that rubber snakes may also work.

Now I have a question for you-when in Charleston I always go to Shem Creek Bar and Grill for oysters. Are there any other oyster bars in Charleston that are better? I'm going to be in the area next week and I'm looking forward to slurpin' a couple dozen and washing them down with a few Palmetto Ales. I stick with Shem Creek Bar and Grill unless there is something better.

[chucka]

I've had some success (about 80% reduction in bird crap) by stringing a very light line that hangs about 3 feet above the deck from the anchor light to the peak of the bow rail. Some people tie on ribbons or streamers, CD's, even plastic grocery bags to blow in the wind and make the line more vissible. I haven't added stuff to mine, which is why it probably doesn't work perfectly. The theory I've heard is that birds don't like to roost where there is something above their head. We get cormorants in the river where I keep my boat and they really make a mess. I've also had about the same success keeping them off my bimini top by stringing a piece of twine above the bimini between the outriggers. Some of the sailboats here use a similar approach to keep them from roosting on the boom. they string a piece of line from the mast to the backstay a couple of feet above boom and it seems to keep the birds from landing there.

Be glad you don't have sea lions to deal with! If you think bird crap is bad, try cleaning up after these guys!

[rossjo]

Chum - Shem Creek Bar and Grill is hard to beat - Albert is usually at the back bar, and has been Charleston's champion oyster chucker many years in a row. They have imported as well as local clusters - try the clsuters for a change (make sure you get all of them). The other option is Reds (roasted oysters)) on the other side of the bridge on Shem Creek. More goingon, and you can sit outside on the creek with propane heaters and a band (on the right night!). You can get raws downtown as well ....

Appreciate everyone's ideas. I like the idea of putting something above their head! I have been to Monterrey Bay, CA, and agree how glad I am that those beasts aren't on my boat!

[Dreamer]

One person in my Marina hung Old CD's from his railings. There very reflective in the sunlight.

[chumwithabottleofrum]

Ross-excuse my ignorance-what is a "oyster cluster"?
I made the mistake once (and only once) of having farm raised oysters (it was during May at RBs about 10 years ago-and not wanting to tempt fate with oysters during a month that did not contain an "R"). What a mistake that was.
I'll stick with Shem Creek B&G-thanks for the info.

[rossjo]

RBs is for tourists - ever wonder why the dock is empty? Great bar - bad food.

Clsuters are exactly that - a cluster of several oysters that have grown together. Local Clusters in an R-Month @ Shem Creek or a local oyster roast are the best!

Where are you from?

[chumwithabottleofrum]

Ross-I live outside of Youngstown OH. Lived in Charlotte from 85-97 and use to boat on Lake Norman.
We'd to get to Charleston every chance we got-usually about once a month on business and we'd pull our boat and take it to Charleston on pleasure once or twice a summer. We'd stay at the Hampton Inn on Albemarle point, and keep the boat at Ripley Light Marina for the weekend. Spent time poking around the harbor and would travel down the ICW-down toward Kiawah or Edisto-no major trips just day stuff.
Ive been to all of the major cities on the east coast, many on the wes coast, some in Canada and Mexico-and Charleston is the best place I've been.
We've been to the Southeast Wildlife Expo-good time, and by mistake been there the weekend of Memorial Day\Spoleto-what a mistake the crowds were unbearable.
Ive got to be in Amelia Island next week for a sales meeting so I'm flying into Charleston a couple of days early and hanging out before heading to the meeting. It's been a while since Ive been on the Yorktown-I want to see the restored WWII Aircraft and on all of the trips we never went out to Sumter-so I'm going to head out there.
I will defend RB's on one point though-it's been about twelve years now but their steam pots weren't bad. But I've always enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Shem Creek Bar and Grill.
Sorry for being long winded-and this IS a Trojan Forum board-not a travelouge.

[Sea Ya]

We have some really big ones here and they are really good. We go into the remote area of some of the bays just after the first frost. (And only) Some green Tabasco and bam. Nothing really better. I get a mess of them after eating my share raw, and I fry some and roast some.

[chumwithabottleofrum]

seeya-are you talking about birds that roost on your boat-or oysters?

[rossjo]

Well, the current RBs has only been there about 4 years - another Ronnie kitchen fire (5th or 6th in the Charleston area). Rebuild (as usually) is much nicer then the old facility, but food is still below average. GREAT bar, but average food.

Reds, Vickerys & SHem Creek Bar & Grill are average too, but more fun.

Best food on Shem Creek is Waters Edge, best onthe water in Charlesotn is The Boat House @ Breach Inlet!

SeeYa - Tabasco is effective on Bird dung?

[chumwithabottleofrum]

thanks ross-I'm in town now-did the "safe" thing last night-hit Hymans with a business associate (he's not an oyster eater). I was a little disappointed though-the food was good, the wait reasonable-45 minutes-but darn they use to have fighting chairs in the bar and now they just have regular bar stools. I was looking forward to "reeling in" a couple of Palmetto beers.

[Danny Bailey]

Put something on top of your pilings to discourage birds from landing there. Gulls and pelicans will land on the highest object before flying down to your boat or dock. I used welded fence wire cut so the spikes stuck straight up wrapped and nailed to the tops of the pilings. The plastic cone shaped rain caps may work (and would look a lot better) but I haven't tried them. Know for a fact the welded fence wire works in NC.

[rossjo]

I like the idea of the birds not flying down from a higher spot ... I have cones on my posts alreay. Do you think I need more (wire)?

Chum - HYMANS? Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Voted Number 1" (by Hyman) on their giant billboards and posters at the airport_. They're almost as bad as RBs (Noisy Oyster chain). Sorry, but his isn't real seafood! I wish I was in town, and I would take you out, but I'm stuck n Atlanta (best Sushi in the Southeast near mall of Georgia). I travel to Boston a lot (we own a compnay there), and they have the best seafood of all ...

[chumwithabottleofrum]

Ross-it was late, my associate was hungry and I didn't have a lot of options-but Hymans has Palmetto Porter on tap-it's not quite as good as Great Lakes Brewing Co's Edmund Fitzgerald Porter-but it wasn't bad. I did get my dozen over at Shem Creek on Tuesday-so I made out all right.