rubber snake or tinsel?

[DaveC426913]

Went down to the boat after almost 2 weeks of inactivity. OMG, it looks like hull.

Two places birds seem to be perching: the spreaders and the midship lifelines. Pretty sure the midship lifeline squatters are little swifts. So a snake leashed to the mast should take care of them. But will it also take care of the spreader squatters, or is that too far away? Do I need to ALSO put tinsel-y stuff on the spreaders?

[seahouse]

Dave -
I drill a hole in, and hang a CD with (~6") cord from the shrouds about 5' above the deck. These flitter and flash in the wind and sunlight and I seem to have less bird poo than other boats around me. Just replaced the old ones with new CD's; they go clear after a year or two of weather exposure.

But that could be from something (anything) else, I haven't gone any length of time without them to make a comparison.

If sleeping inside the cabin, you will want to remove or bind these because they can make a racket banging into the shrouds if it's windy. Pretty quiet for others outside the cabin, though.

- Brian.

[Highlander]

I fly small flags above the spreaders

J

[Crikey]

Try a propane cannon - farmers swear by them!

[finding41]

I would consider placing rubber snakes on the spreaders. Just hit the dollar store and get a couple snakes and zip ties. Put them right on top of the spreader next time you have the mast down.
I don't seem to have bird problems. Don't know why not. I am docked in a conservation area and 20' from the woods.

[Catigale]

Common keelback is the snake of choice, Shirley....

[Crikey]

Massassauga Rattler!