Snakes on a Cover (Plastic ones and not a movie)

[thadius65]

Help me Samuel Jackson!

So spring is in the air, pool has been open for 6 weeks and our local black bird population seems to find my pool to be the perfect location for:

Drinking water and leaving droppings
Doing dive bomb runs with ordnance deployed
Just general socializing

So off to the dollar store I went. I got six plastic snakes about 14" in length. Some green, some brown, some more tropical. I left three on the solar cover as it lays on the water as they land and stand as they drink and drop. After first night, two of the three on the pool.....GONE. I had one on a roof, one on top of a patio heater and one positioned on the 6' fence post. One of those three GONE.

Couple questions - I may try to replace and somehow anchor the snakes with fish line or something. Other than this, what can I do? I also have an owl decoy also now looking over the pool from atop my hot tub. Other suggestions welcome.

The droppings on the concrete, atop of the solar cover and clumps of it in the water MUST GO. Any help appreciated. (one would hope 50ppm of boric acid would deter, but guess not).

Thanks!

Ted

 

[Butterfly]

Good Grief! I can't believe they are stealing your snakes!

Well, until Samuel Jackson shows up, use the Google search, bottom left on page for 'birds' and you'll get an earful

 

[zea3]

A web of fishing line suspended above the pool works for ducks, maybe it will work for other birds as well. A couple of cats hanging out on the cover may help too!

 

[thadius65]

War of the Birds continues. I have repositioned more snakes, an owl and I just ordered Scare Eye balloons and Bird-X Peller Pro 2. In addition, I flushed two out of my arborvitae and plucked them off the high wire with my pellet gun. It's game on Mr. Black Birds!

 

[Beez]

War of the Birds continues. I have repositioned more snakes, an owl and I just ordered Scare Eye balloons and Bird-X Peller Pro 2. In addition, I flushed two out of my arborvitae and plucked them off the high wire with my pellet gun. It's game on Mr. Black Birds!

So, uh, you are pretty good at this game, right?

 

[thadius65]

Last time it was Blue Heron and my pond/fish. Herron lost with use of Scarecrow motion activated sprinkler head. They start it, I go all in to end it. )

 

[East_Akl_Neil]

You could try this, http://www.vinetechbirdscarers.com/index.html, however I think it may be overkill in your case

 

[Beez]

Last time it was Blue Heron and my pond/fish. Herron lost with use of Scarecrow motion activated sprinkler head. They start it, I go all in to end it. )

All praises to the PlayStation.

 

[thadius65]

You could try this, http://www.vinetechbirdscarers.com/index.html, however I think it may be overkill in your case

My grandfather had a cherry orchard with a large sonic gun. Thought it crossed my mind, I would be run out of the borough!

 

[thadius65]

Anyone thinking about the bird-x peller, WARNING! It will make your backyard sound like the Rainforest Cafe! Not a good in-town solution.

 

[Buford]

Are they crows (ravens/magpies)? My neighbor provided a solution, that has kept crows away for a year. He killed one and hung it in a tree, they do not go within 100 yards of that tree.

 

[thadius65]

Just an update - Between the six plastic snakes positioned in sight, the nasty owl decoy and the occasional pellet gun action (3 down to date)..... All has been "doody free" at our backyard oasis.

Good luck!

 

[tlwilson]

Here is what the birds did to my owl!

[attachment=0:6mf1yjyc]7386830610_cf78172919_z[1].jpg[/attachment:6mf1yjyc]

 

[thadius65]

:-D Mine must be scarier than yours....

 

[tlwilson]

I put a snake up and they even built a nest on the snake's back!