Don't feed the seagulls!

[s/v Faith]

Oh man....

... I have to go aloft. (I do so hate my ATN topclimber!)

The sea gulls are evil.

  Apparently they did not like having my wind indicator swinging around under them as they perched on my mast head (so as to better decorate my decks and sail cover)....  So they removed it.

  The new re-arranged mast head has a long arm with a short stub on it that the indicator used to mount to.

I do not use the windex, but like to use it as an illustration of 'apparent wind' when I am teaching new Sailors...

  I have to either break down and buy a new one, or remove the mount.  ::)

[Auspicious]

My solution to seagulls:



Okay, look it's a joke.

Sea gulls, ducks, and geese - proof that God has a warped sense of humour.

[Tim]

They are called fowl for a reason!  ;)  I have decided that anything Blue jay or larger is a nuisance. Turkeys around the house climbed up on the deck and ate all my grapes. And there IS a season for them critters.

[Oldrig]

Around here it seems to be the cormorants (usually prefer spreaders, and cover the deck with huge quantities of you-know-what) and the osprey. When the young osprey leave the nest, they just love to perch on my Windex. Every season, they bend and eventually break the thing -- and they leave fish guts and bones on the deck.

Next year, I might try using pieces of yarn or magnetic tape on my shrouds and forget about a Windex. Instead, I will construct a "crown" of copper boatbuilding nails (facing point up). That should help.

I've thought about that shotgun, too.

Very, very illegal -- and not very good for sailcloth or gelcoat either.

--Joe

[Jeremy]

I've had nary a problem - the PO decorated the mast top with spikes, and strung three thin horizontal wires just above the spreaders.  I don't think I'd have done this myself, but I have to admit that the combo has been very effective.

[Oldrig]

I've had nary a problem - the PO decorated the mast top with spikes, and strung three thin horizontal wires just above the spreaders.

Jeremy,

You're lucky.

I set up some wires above the spreaders this season, but they didn't discourage the guano-producing cormorants. So I went back to my earlier tactic of raising a "false yardarm" of PVC tubes just above the spreaders. That worked -- until the young osprey started landing on, and breaking my Windex.

Next year I mount spikes!

--Joe

[SV Wind Dancer]

I was reading an account some time ago about some folks who built a historically accurate Viking longship and sailed the North Atlantic.  Along for the ride came a historical expert on ancient Viking cuisine.  No one else in the crew even knew that seagulls were edible, let alone that the Great Horned Ones had so many recipes for them. 

[maxiSwede]

I was reading an account some time ago about some folks who built a historically accurate Viking longship and sailed the North Atlantic.  Along for the ride came a historical expert on ancient Viking cuisine.  No one else in the crew even knew that seagulls were edible, let alone that the Great Horned Ones had so many recipes for them. 

Moitissier ate gulls too, after a slingshot hunting trip around the port.... but he didn't, errh, quite appreciate their taste.

But then of course, being French, he might have bit at least a tiny bit spoiled when it came to food.  ;) ;)

Guess what !? That thing about '...horned ones....' is just a myth and a misconception and I think no one knows where it comes from.

The Vikings did absolutely NOT have horns on there helmets!

[SV Wind Dancer]

I think only one or two horned helmets were ever found in Viking grave goods and wiser heads opine they were ceremonial and not martial.  Nevertheless...I want one. 

[CharlieJ]

I'm sure every one here is aware that seagulls are federally protected birds?

Thought so- ;D ;D

[s/v Faith]

I'm sure every one here is aware that seagulls are federally protected birds?

Thought so- ;D ;D

I shall remember to summon the park rangers next time their charges choose to foul my ship.  ;D

[Jeremy]

I'm sure every one here is aware that seagulls are federally protected birds?

Thought so- Grin Grin

Seriously?  Those rats with wings can't be endangered, they're everywhere.

Confession: A buddy of mine was a stern man on a Maine lobster boat, and I joined him for a day.  The gulls loved the leftover bait and surrounded the boat all day.  Among the sports to get through the day's work was chucking unwanted crabs at gulls. Generally, the crabs got returned to the sea, and no gulls were harmed.  Anyway, as it happened, I pegged a gull in midair, and the thing hit the water seriously dazed.  I tried to snap it out of its daze by tossing it some leftover bait, which landed on its back between its wings, prompting its mates to peck mercilessly at him.  We then went on to the next set of traps, leaving the poor gull turning circles in a daze. 

Unfortunate as that was, I can't believe it rises to the level of a federal crime.