If you’re like most people, you probably enjoy spending time on the water. Whether you’re a fan of fishing, kayaking, or simply relaxing in a boat, there’s nothing quite like being out on the open water.
However, if you’ve ever had to deal with birds in your boathouse, you know that it can quickly ruin the experience.
This blog post will discuss how to keep birds out of boathouse and provide some effective solutions.
What Kind of Birds Are Commonly Found in the Boathouse?
Before you learn how to keep birds out of the boathouse, you must understand which species are the most common culprits. The following list contains some popular species found in or near boathouses:
- American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – This is one of North America’s largest songbirds and has black feathers with a distinctive cawing call.
- Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) – This species is native to North America, where it breeds along the coasts of southern Canada and northern Mexico during the summer months. The bird tends to have greyish brown plumage on its back with a black throat and bill.
- Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) – This species is the official bird of seven U.S. states, and it’s also one of the most common birds in North America. The male has a bright red plumage, while the female is mostly brownish in color.
- Pigeons (Columba livia) – These birds are native to Europe, but they have been introduced all over the world. They tend to be greyish brown in color with a white rump patch and pink legs.
- Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) – This species is native to Eurasia but has become naturalized in North America. The bird tends to be black with a purple-green sheen and white spots on its wings.
The damage that these birds can do to your boathouse
Birds can quickly cause damage to the boathouse and its surroundings by defecating on boats, swimming docks, or other surfaces.
Birds are also known for eating insects, which may be beneficial in some situations, but not if they’re nesting under your boathouse roof, where it will leave droppings behind that need cleaning up frequently.
They may also be a nuisance because of how loud their calls can be when they’re nesting near residential areas and disturbing people’s sleep.
How to Keep Birds Out Of Boathouse
The following are some effective ways to keep birds out of your boathouse, but before that, it is always better to keep the boathouse door closed as much as possible and only open it when you’re using the boat.
1. Use a bird deterrent – There are many different types of bird deterrents on the market, from mechanical devices that make loud noises or move around to visual scare tactics such as fake snakes or owls.
The most effective deterrents are loud and moving around, but visual deterrents like fake snakes might also work if the bird is afraid of them (for example, crows).
2. Make sure there’s no food source nearby – If you have a fish pond or any other water feature in your garden, make sure it doesn’t contain live fish because it will attract birds.
You should also avoid leaving any food scraps or bird feeders near the boathouse as this will only invite unwanted guests.
3. Install netting – One of the most effective ways to keep birds out of your boathouse is to install netting over the entrances and windows.
This will stop them from getting in, but you will need to ensure that the netting is strong enough to keep them out.
4. Use a roof – If you have a metal roof on your boathouse, this can act as a deterrent as birds don’t like landing on metal surfaces.
You could also install spikes along the edge of the roof to further discourage them from landing.
5. Install a chimney cap – A chimney cap will stop birds from nesting in your chimney, and this can also be effective in keeping them out of the boathouse.
6. Get a dog – One of the best ways to keep birds out of your boathouse is to get a dog because they will bark at anything that moves around the house or garden.
7. Install motion-sensor lights – Motion sensing lights are another effective way to keep birds out of your boathouse as they will scare them away whenever there’s movement in the area.
8. Use a bird feeder with seed that has been treated for pest control – One of the most common ways to keep birds away from bird feeders is to use a feeder treated with a pest control agent.
This will stop the birds from eating the food and hopefully deter them from coming back.
9. Use a water sprinkler – If you have a water sprinkler, you can set it up to go off whenever there’s movement near the boathouse. The water sprinkler will startle the birds and hopefully make them go away.
10. Get a Scarecrow – A scarecrow is a mechanical device that looks like a life-sized person, and it will move around to scare away any birds that are close by.
11. Install spikes on the roof or around the boathouse – Installing spikes on the roof or around the outside of the boathouse is another way to keep birds away. However, the spikes will make it difficult for them to land, and they’ll eventually give up and go somewhere else.
12. Hang fake owls or other predatory birds – Another way to keep birds away from your boathouse is to hang fake owls or other predatory birds near the entrance.
If you don’t have one handy, you could also try using a scarecrow instead of an owl.
13. Keep doors and windows closed – Finally, if you don’t want birds to get into your boathouse, then make sure that all of the entrances are kept closed at all times.
This includes those on boats and any other kind of boat storage building like a shed or garage. It would help if you also kept the windows shut because birds can fly through small gaps in them.
It’s best to install screens on all openings if possible since this will make it harder for them to enter.
How to Prevent Birds from Entering Your Boathouse in the First Place
There are a few different ways to keep birds out of your boathouse, depending on the type of bird and how aggressive it is. Here are some tips:
- Install wire mesh over all windows and doors to prevent them from entering. This can be effective against smaller birds, but may not be as successful with larger ones.
- Place bird spikes on top of the roof or other areas where birds might land. These can be purchased at most hardware stores and will deter them from perching there, but they may still try to get onto your property if they want food badly enough.
- Put up signs warning people not to feed any type of animals inside because it will only attract more of them. This includes birds, as well as other animals that may be looking for an easy meal.
- If all else fails, you can always try to scare the birds away with loud noises or water hoses. Just make sure they’re not nesting in the boathouse first.
No matter how you choose to prevent entry, it would help if you did something about the problem right away.
If left unchecked for too long, bird infestations can become so bad they’ll cause damage to your home or property and possibly even put people at risk of getting sick from their droppings.
What to Do If Birds Have Already Made Themselves at Home in Your Boathouse?
If birds have already made themselves at home in your boathouse, there are a few things you can do to get them to leave. One solution is to install bird netting over the entrance of the boathouse.
This will prevent the birds from getting inside, and they will eventually find another place to live.
You can also try to scare the birds away with loud noises or objects that move around. If all else fails, you can always call a professional to remove the birds for you.
No matter how well you prepare, there’s always a chance that some birds will find their way into your boathouse. But by following these tips, you can make sure that it doesn’t happen too often.
Additional Tips for Keeping Unwanted Guests Out of Your Boathouse
Here are a few more tips for keeping unwanted guests out of your boathouse.
- The first thing you need to do is make sure that the door does not have any gaps or spaces where birds can enter. If there are small cracks in the walls around an open door, these should be sealed as well.
- You may also want to add weather stripping around the doors and windows of your boathouse so that they won’t allow cold air inside during the winter months.
- Another thing you can do is put up netting on any open areas where birds might enter from above such as eaves or roofs overhang.
- Finally, make sure you keep the area around your boathouse clean and free of any debris or food that might attract birds.
- This includes leaving no piles of leaves or branches near the building and cleaning up any spilt birdseed or other food items. If you can’t stop them from coming in, at least try to make it difficult for them to stay.
Conclusion
There are a few different ways to keep birds out of your boathouse. For example, you can install bird netting, use scare tactics, or install an electric fence.
Whichever method you choose, it is important to be consistent and persistent to achieve the best results.
By following these tips, you can protect your boathouse from unwanted bird visitors and keep your property looking its best.
