Deterring Owls

[TejasSailer]

Wondering if anybody has experience with deterring owls. In our marina there is an owl that consumes its kill on the second spreaders of a few boats and makes a real mess of the decks. These particular boats are within 20' to 30' of the wooded shoreline of a lake, and the owl might also perch and use the spreaders to seek its prey.

We're trying a rubber snake up near the second spreaders but don't expect success. We wondering if owls actually might try to eat the rubber snake.

Owls are used as deterents, and if owls are territiorial, a plastic owl as a deterrent might be effective.

There are audible deterrents that claim deterrent recordings for several different kinds of birds, but none seem to mention deterring owls.

Since owls are nocturnal, there is also a strobe deterrent that might be effective.

However, both audible and stobe deterrents are a bit pricy for experiments, so reports of actual experience would be appreaciated.

[Boasun]

The perils of keeping sea birds from roosting on your boats and crapping all over them. You have a live owl who is doing an excellent job and yet you complain.
Oh! Owls eats snakes also. You need a bigger Raptor to take care of the owl.

[JohnRPollard]

This sounds similar to the problem we have on the Chesapeake with osprey, but instead of fur and pellets, we get fish guts, scales, eyeballs, oil etc. The osprey's favorite roost is the mainsail cover.

The best luck we've had so far is to make it difficult for them to land and roost. We do this by creating a lattice work of lines around the boat. One line is strung a foot or so above the mainsail cover (from the topping lift forward to the mast), several lines at various angles between the shrouds, etc, to form a spiderweb. Also, we bring the various halyards back to different locations along the toe-rail, to create flight obstacles in the foretriangle.

Basically, you want to make your boat just a little bit less desirable as a roost than a nearby tree (or your neighbor's boat ).

[sailingdog]

If you put thin fishing line about five inches above the spreaders... it will deter the owls...they won't like hitting and will stop landing on the spreaders after you've put it up.

For the line, I'd recommend 14 lb. test Fireline, since it is very UV resistant and exceptionally thin and difficult to see for the birds.

[Gryzio]

A friend was moving and gave me their Chickens. They were those Bantam Breeds and pretty good fliers (I remember trying to catch them running all over Hell and Back).

Anywho; I turned them lose on my place in the country and they lived the good life taking the corn I gave them and making "Corn Squeezings". They get Drunken and sleep up in the trees at night.

Eventually this Owl figured out the game plan. It come through every night and get a Chicken dinner from the trees. I heard the Squawking when it grab one. I found it interesting it was one a night until they were gone.

Not a whole lot I could do. Figured it was better them than me.

I guess I made a connection with Nature and "go with the flow". Owls have to eat too. They want the same thing I do, live and enjoy.

I remember seeing a Bird once when I was young and it land on the "Naked" power line (Electrical). I ask this man; "Why does the bird not get shocked"? The man say; "It has to touch both Hot and Ground to be shocked and possibly electrocuted" (There is a difference).

I guess a person could make a simple shock (NOT Electrocution) wire on the area the Owl lands, not take long it find a better place.

I guess off hand (I never have this before), I lay an old sheet under the drop zone. I think it be cool to have an Owl think I have the best boat to visit.

[US27inKS]

I understand that owls have EXTREMELY sensative hearing. Maybe a noise maker of some kind will keep him away.

[uspirate]

people pay good money for decoy owls to keep pests away, you got a live one for free!
maybe try the old cd,dvd discs tied to a string. the mirrored reflection (even though nocturnal) maybe it'll reflect a lil light at night and spinning may keep them away

[soul searcher]

The perils of keeping sea birds from roosting on your boats and crapping all over them. You have a live owl who is doing an excellent job and yet you complain.
Oh! Owls eats snakes also. You need a bigger Raptor to take care of the owl.

Do they make rubber pterodactyls

[Bermuda30]

Never tried it with owls, but our "bird whacker" (highly intelligent sounding name) is a piece of pvc conduit hoisted up about 8" above the spreaders. Cut it shorter than the spreaders, so it can rotate freely. After gettin hit a few times the birds quit coming around. Oh, and cover it with pipe insulation so you don't hear it against the mast. Doesn't last forever with UV degradation and all, but it'll do the job cheaply.

[sailingdog]

Bermuda30--

can you post a photo of the bird whacker in action??