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More Bird Drop Tips
by Tom Neale
We've found that the "Scare Eye" balloons, manufactured
by BIRDX , work reasonably well. But it's also been our experience
that their tie points will frequently break in winds that
are normally encountered around the water, so we keep a spare.
At under $10.00 apiece, this isn't impractical. What is impractical
is recovering the halyard at the top of the mast unless you've
attached it so that it isn't separated when the balloon flies
away. Unfortunately we've discovered that after a couple of
weeks, local flocks seem to get used to them. The manufacturer
makes two colors and recommends changing colors regularly,
but we've found that few stores stock both colors of the balloons.
We've also found that the inflatable snake manufactured by
Dalen helps, used in conjunction with the balloons. We tie
the snake on to keep it from being blown overboard, and remove
it when people visit with dogs.
Wands that sweep over your potential landing surfaces also
thwart landings. You can buy these already made for just under
$35.00 (such as that made by Trima) in retail marine stores.
They, in our observation, don't protect as wide an area as
the balloons aloft, although smaller power boats with Bimini
tops and no masts find these more helpful.
Anything aloft that produces a lot of movement in the winds
and that makes a lot of noise helps. If it looks like a menace
to the flock (as with the Scare Eye Balloons) they'll continue
to help when the wind's not blowing.
Berry eating birds are particularly effective. Avoid, if
you can, anchoring or docking near berry trees. How do you
know that there are berry trees ashore? Just wait a few hours.
You'll know.
SEE WWWBOATUS.COM (EDDIE CAN YOU PUT THE RIGHT LINK OR WHATEVER?)
FOR MORE TIPS ON THIS SUBJECT.
For more tips about what to do when you find cockroaches aboard, go to
www.boatus.com, and follow the prompts to the “Tom Neale’s Cruising for
You” section.
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