miq Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 We have a serious problem with wild ducks using the top of our boat as a toilet, as we moor under a tree on the main river channel. The boats either side of us do not seem to have a problem so it might be that the ducks like our particular shade of green, or it could be because they use covers which stretch right across the boat! We are reluctant to use heavy covers as some of the people who use the boat would have difficulty removing them, but we have seen a product called 'scare tape' (no not duct tape) which claims to keep the blighters off by rattling in the wind and reflecting the light from it's holographic surface. Has anyone any experience of this tape , does it work? does it last long enough to be effective? we'd love to hear from you if you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) Keep a bottle of this on the roof, if they don’t get the idea after a bit then bon appetite Edited October 12, 2017 by Robbo 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 9 hours ago, miq said: The boats either side of us do not seem to have a problem... There's your clue - they're the ones putting the bread on your roof at night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) Or it could be the tree is low enough to give them some cover so they like resting/roosting on your boat. I think that if it were mine a morning with a saw would be beckoning. I am having the same problem with seagulls. In my case removable bird spikes will soon be fitted above the cratch. String up a line of old CDs if you can scrounge enough. Cheaper than buying tape. Edited October 12, 2017 by Tony Brooks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 4 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said: String up a line of old CDs if you can scrounge enough. Cheaper than buying tape. True, and they'll probably sound better. Although a proper purist music buff duck might prefer vinyl. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Megson Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 Are you sure its ducks and not pigeons roosting in the tree at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 We have a similar problem with ducks "overnighting" on the paving adjacent to the bank of our end of garden mooring. Nothing deters them, even letting our GSD chase them off at regular intervals. They just keep coming back and tormenting the poor dog. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irob Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 Same on our pontoon. The pesks roost on the outward end and crap everywhere. When i moor up i have to kneel in it to get to the pontoon ring, and since i,ve worn shorts its making my knee hair grow like feathers. I tried kids windmills and bright eyed doggy squeekies, but these just amuse them through the long nights and annoy my neighbour's ducks. I could try some of that sticky rat glue but having legless ducks as well as legless neighbours maybe too much. ideas please.? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWM Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irob Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 1 hour ago, BWM said: Haha! . I missed the most obvious ! Lights out m,ducks ! But i,d probably miss the blighters in the dark and blast my electric hookup bollard to smithereens. Lights out for me ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 I have seen people use a plastic owl or hawk either on the end of the boat or on a post on a mooring, works a treat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 When seagulls crapping on boats moored opposite the hire base my boss had a knack of shooting one with an air rifle. That produced loud alarm calls at which all the gulls from 100s of yards all round used to fly away and what's more stay away for a month or two. Can you get recordings of duck alarm calls and play them loudly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewildered Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Sounds like it's time to break out the Fudd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill brown Posted January 14, 2018 Report Share Posted January 14, 2018 Don't shoot them as you may find yourself up before the beak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloomsberry Posted January 14, 2018 Report Share Posted January 14, 2018 I used a recording of bird distress calls off youtube to get rid of noisy starlings on the roof of my house. Not sure if you're neighbours will appreciate it though ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace 01 Posted January 14, 2018 Report Share Posted January 14, 2018 Get a cat, that'll make them think twice about your boat. Cheers David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irob Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 10 hours ago, Bloomsberry said: I used a recording of bird distress calls off youtube to get rid of noisy starlings on the roof of my house. Not sure if you're neighbours will appreciate it though ! What's a ducks distress call sound like ? " QUUAAAKK !!!" as opposed to normal " quak quak" ? Strange put french ducks say "quan quan". Maybe i,ve got european french immigrant ducks, i must try it in Frog ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutts Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 (edited) On 10/11/2017 at 22:41, miq said: We have a serious problem with wild ducks using the top of our boat as a toilet, as we moor under a tree on the main river channel. The boats either side of us do not seem to have a problem so it might be that the ducks like our particular shade of green, or it could be because they use covers which stretch right across the boat! We are reluctant to use heavy covers as some of the people who use the boat would have difficulty removing them, but we have seen a product called 'scare tape' (no not duct tape) which claims to keep the blighters off by rattling in the wind and reflecting the light from it's holographic surface. Has anyone any experience of this tape , does it work? does it last long enough to be effective? we'd love to hear from you if you know. Townie Tw@ Edited January 15, 2018 by Mutts NONE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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