Sea Gulls – The Dirty Secret

by Peter Geiger | Thursday, July 30th, 2009 | From: Farmers' Almanac Blog

Earlier this summer I faced a problem that has frustrated many of us. I have a cottage on a Maine lake. It is picturesque with the exception of the seagulls that loiter around. We are not close to the ocean but somehow these birds have moved inland. I am told that there is less food at the ocean for them, so these scavengers just look for any morsel they can find. The worst part is that they not only take but they leave behind a wicked mess. Since they are a “protected” bird… it’s hands off.

On a regular basis I’d have to clean their residue from my float and dock. Then I bought owls with moving heads. That did the trick- at least for awhile. They decided to target my deck chairs. One weekend, it was so bad, it was as if someone took a bucket of waste and tossed it all over every chair and the windows. It was inches thick. So, I bought additional owls and put them on the rocking chairs. As the wind blows, the owls appear to move including their heads. I also invested in a 6 foot snake (Raymond) who sits on my boat cover. The good news is that I am bird waste free for a month. So, I say invest in the owls and snakes and put the fear of God in the birds.

This is my best solution to the bird problem. I am open to other suggestions

Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. Read his full biography here.

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Farmers' Almanac Long Range Weather

February 8th - February 11th

United States

Canada

Northeast U.S.
Wet snow mixed with rain Mid-Atlantic north through New England; slushy accumulations of 4+" possible.
Midwest/Great Lakes U.S.
Accumulating snows Kentucky, Ohio, then clearing. Fair elsewhere.
Southeast U.S.
Wet snow Tennessee, western North Carolina; wintry mix northern Mississippi, Alabama. Elsewhere, rain, then clearing.
North Central U.S.
Drier, much colder.
South Central U.S.
Snow parts of Arkansas, then clearing, cold. Clear, much colder elsewhere.
Northwest U.S.
Drier, but colder.
Southwest U.S.
Drier, but noticeably colder.