Blackbirds/Grackles

[Beens]

They go away eventually. The ducks on the other hand? This is the first time they've been around and they're all but destroying my pool. I'm at my wits end with them. So much vacuuming every day I can barely keep up with the poop. I need a shotgun.

Sent from my pretty nifty brand new LG V10

 

[nlindelldc]

This is about to change your world. A friend of mine put one of these on his dock that was being littered with birds and ducks. Check it out.

Cat Decoy Scares Birds Away from Boats, patios, balconies - YouTube

You can purchase here:

Bird Scare Cat keeps birds...

 

[tmurphy]

OMG it is KILLING me!
I just vaccumed our 10,000 gallon pool for the first time this spring and it actually wasn't too bad other than all the POOP!
I had to backwash the filter 4 times! And that was after I scooped out as much as I could with the net.... ugh!
It is SO gross!!!!!!
The owl is useless...... they practically land right on it!

 

[poolnorthernva]

We've been fighting the battle for two weeks now. It looks to be lessening a little. Man what a mess. This year they are coming from a different direction. Our neighbor with a pool tried lighting loud fireworks randomly right during the start of the nesting period. Did not work.

 

[samyt]

IT"S DRIVING ME NUTS!!!
I tried everything (fake owl, predator sounds, fake dead crow, shining objects...) nothing works..Spent my sunday power washing around the pool and the droppings are back in force. Not sure what to do any more..Any suggestions or recommendations are highly appreciated.

 

[nlindelldc]

IT"S DRIVING ME NUTS!!!
I tried everything (fake owl, predator sounds, fake dead crow, shining objects...) nothing works..Spent my sunday power washing around the pool and the droppings are back in force. Not sure what to do any more..Any suggestions or recommendations are highly appreciated.

Did any of you try the cat mentioned above? My buddy with a boat dock swears by his

 

[mburn16]

lots of grackles and starlings around my yard, but no problems with them getting into (or "going" into) the pool. Ducks on the other hand.....I've got a resident mallard pair that will fly right down and land in the water while I'm out there working on it. It was cute when I had the winter cover on still. Now that I've got the pool chemicalized, I doubt its good for any involved.

Main problem is still toads though.

 

[drharris]

For toads you may try a FrogLog. Since putting mine in I've seen no frogs or toads in my skimmer basket. But... if they're just swimming around for a good time with no plans to exit, then it looks like they own your pool now.

 

[tmurphy]

Did any of you try the cat mentioned above? My buddy with a boat dock swears by his

I'm thinking that since I witnessed them dropping their poop sacks in the pool WHILE my daughter and her friend were swimming in it..... the cat isn't going to be much of a deterrent either.

 

[Ecoke]

I know this is trouble for you all but for us with screened in pools...it's a pretty fun read...(don't hate me)... having never had to deal with it....sitting here trying to figure out this "poop sack" thing...never heard of such a thing...and don't think I want to know!

Hope it all gets better!

 

[Ocgasman]

Running my robot and and an inflatable alligator got rid of a duck that was making my pool it's home. Good luck!

 

[poolnorthernva]

Fortunately the poop drop season is short, and is over for us. But it seems like a long time when it is happening.

 

[nlindelldc]

I'm thinking that since I witnessed them dropping their poop sacks in the pool WHILE my daughter and her friend were swimming in it..... the cat isn't going to be much of a deterrent either.

Yes, but your daughter and her friend are not natural bird predators. Birds fly by, in, and around our pool while we are swimming also

 

[fjd726]

This time of year again. These evil things are dropping it in and around the pool, on the asphalt driveway, and even on the cars. Sick of this every year. Has anyone actually figured out a way to get rid of the Grackle?

 

[mariane]

We have resigned ourselves to leaving the winter cover on till the birds stop dropping the poop.
The ducks on the other hand: I went after them with a direct water hit from the garden hose 2 days in a row. They decided this "swim spa" was no longer relaxing and have not returned for several years now. Can't seem to sneak up on the birds though.

 

[jason.jammer]

Glad I found this thread. It's July 1 and I found two of these at the bottom of my pool and one on the deck. A few hours later I found this floating. Is this hatchling feces? Sorry for the blurry photo but I think it shows enough. Please let me know.

 

[mariane]

I would say yes. I've had enough experience I think.

 

[jason.jammer]

Thank you the quick response. Seems like there is something new everyday owning a pool.

 

[mariane]

For your reading pleasure:

opening and bird poop

I am hoping for people's opinions re: opening with bird problems. Here is our situation and question: We wait till June to take off the pool cover and open because we have birds that clean their nest and drop baby bird poop all over the top rails and into the water. If the cover is on they drop...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[LooLooPoolNoob]

Ugh, I feel this while thread. We have pines surrounding our whole back yard and I swear is a feather Firefight every morning! I've found dead hatchings, which make me wanna cry and vomit. Poop everywhere. And FEATHERS oh god the FEATHERS. one morning it literally looked like a bird EXPLODED over my pool. I'm gonna try the old CD thing. But I'm def chopping down those trees this fall.