Scaring Geese?

[TWINKLE_TOES]

pbenven,

I saw a similar thing, but at a garbage dump, intended to keep the sea gulls away. The monofilment lines ran between a half dozen or so poles, randomly over the dump. I figured the gulls didn't like the thought of getting hung on the line. The dozer operated said it worked pretty well. He didn't say how.

 

[DaveM]

Yep, it appears there's quite a few techniques and theories out there on how to combat the problem.

I found an article that referenced a study done on Canada geese that claimed no human pathogens have been found in their feces. That's the good news /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. The bad news is that this same study found that an adult goose produces aprx. 1 lb. of poop per day /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. Another bit of bad news is that I think "our geese" have learned to come over to our pond when we're asleep or away /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

I admit to wanting a muzzle loader for the past year. A 50 or 54 cal. ball o' lead might be the best answer to our problem. I also suspect the young are now old enough to fend for themselves. BTW, this same study ALSO claimed that the young birds often return to the place of their birth every year. I'd hate to see this trend get started... if it hasn't already!

Dave

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DaveM on 06/26/01 03:59 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Bill_Ryan]

I agree a well trained dog is best choice. Don't know if a Border Collie would be best choice. I'd reccommend a dog that loves the water...like a labrador. Our border collie didn't like the water, but our lab loved it.

How big are the ponds? Can you cover them with mesh for a period of time? Can you interfere with their landing zone (i.e. plant trees or hang netting.

Once they've nested, you'll never get rid of them this season unless something kills them. I'd start planning on next season in case they return to the same nesting spot or new geese appear. Prevent them fron nesting (i.e. don't provide good nesting sites. And DO NOT feed them.

My 5 cents worth.

Bill

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

I wonder if the mono idea would keep birds off the fruit trees and bushes? Might save having to net everything.

Watcha think?

SHF

 

[looch]

Yeah, I think you may have something there. It would probably be a lot less unsightly, too. If you could somehow paint the poles into the background, people might not even notice. Are you going to try it?

 

[looch]

Woohoo, just went bronze with that one.

 

[DaveM]

Bill- Any ideas about a source for a suitable netting that would cover a 100' diameter circle? This would clearly be a better and easier solution than trying to string a bunch of line back and forth across the pond. If it's not too expensive I'd put it up next spring. In the meantime I'll be shopping for the muzzle loader. I know Cabela's has some nice models.

Thanks for your 5 cents!

Dave

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Sounds like a move back to town might be in order

 

[patrickg]

A wind excited stretched string oscillator? This is known as an Aeolian Harp after Aeolius the Greek god of the wind. For pleasing people, multiple strings are frequently used, typically each a note in a pleasing chord. Great alternative to or addition to a wind chime. Never heard of using something like that to sscare birds. Long strings would likely produce low notes or just a rushing noise.

Muzzle loader? Hmmm, I have a .75 cal muzzle loading flintlock pirate pistol thingy (hand cannon) but the rate of fire is too slow and it is too labor intensive stoking it. There however, are special bird frightening shotgun shells that launch an exploding projectile. Essentially no shrapnel or damage hazzard if fired mostly upward (you might want to be a bit more direst, so to speak) and if they don't work on the geese, it is the 4th of July holiday season.

I would be looking to cobble something up using infrared motion detectors to trigger something geese wouldn't like. Unfortunately the setup I built probably would be a bad goose deterent as I used it to turn on a dishwasher water control valve to turn the water on to a rainbird sprinkler to keep dogs from leaving "Love Notes" in my landscaping (previous location was urban). Worked great on strays and great fun to watch folks with a leashed dog try to "Do it" in my yard. Picture someone with an eighty pound dog on a leash. They stand patiently on the sidewalk waiting for Bowser to do his thing. Bowser steps off the sidewalk, gets detected, water is turned on, while the air is still being purged (hissing sound) from the hose, the dog tries to jump a block away dragging the owner with a wrenched arm SOMEWHERE ELSE. A side benefit was that in two to three days it trained the Postman not to take a shortcut through my landscaping.

Geese could probably be detered with ultrasonics but it could annoy any dogs that heard it. Switching the ultrasonic projectors on with a motion detector wold mionimize the annoyance to other animals. I bought a few units from Sharper Image and some other catalog house to replace the rainbird gadget. Seems that during a drought when lawn watering to excess(running in street) was a punishable offence, some neighbor kids discovered but misinterpreted and misused my "system". Probably chased a ball into the yard and got sprinkled or something. They came back with their swimming suits and jumped back and forth over the sprinkler. They played so long (in our abscence) that water was running in the street. Didn't get a ticket but due to that concern, replaced sprinkler thingy with ultrasonics. Actually moved it to back yard garden area to keep cats from using it as a sandbox.

You M A Y try this at home kids B U T put the switch on the motion detector in the test position. This lets it work in the daylight A N D turns it off about 10 seconds after no motion is detected. Otherwise it will spray for some number of minutes (usually more than you want). This was a $8 motion detector with two light sockets. Just remove (or don't install the light sockets) and wire the 120 volt ac thingy to be controlled where the lights would have been.
Note: No waranty expressed or implied as to the fitness for any specific purpose of anything even remotely resembling what I described. Be careful, you could be killed or injured if you do something dumb. Not sure? Hire an electrician. Additional 10,000 word disclaimer available for those willing to pay to see it.

Patrick

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Aeolian Harp? I should've known it was invented a few thousand years ago. (That's when all the cool stuff came out.) /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I would think that the diameter of the monfilament and the tension applied to it would produce the tone. Different thickness, different tension, different tone. What this device may be doing is producing a tone that resembles the sound of some natural predator, or disaster, thereby scaring the geese. Much like the sound of thunder sends my dog under the bed. Or, the geese simply might not like the song and don't feel like dancing.

I have seen the motion detector stuff being used for scaring away deer, etc. I believe you can find units in the back of some of the seed catalogs, (Gurney's etc.) don't know about the quality of them though.

SHF

 

[DaveM]

Hi Gang,

Wow, it's been a long time since I've found the time to post anything. I've still been reading AND learning though... when I can. This post will be a "rambler" about numerous, mostly unconnected stuff.

The geese... Two of the six ran into 50 cal. balls of lead leaving four to continue the poop fests. I think the first to go was one of the parents, hard to tell once the young ones got big. I really thought this would discourage the rest from coming over and it did... for 2 days! They were definetely avoiding me and trying to come over when I wasn't around but still coming all the same. About one week later goose #2 met the same fate. This seemed to keep them away a little longer and coincided with their learning to fly. I think they are still in the area but are now flying around everyday and leaving our pond alone. Yea!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Of course the geese I've been seeing and hearing the past couple of weeks could just be flying over. I believe their migration has begun. I do think the addition of a tractor tire tube floating in the pond along with my previous interventions has gone a long way in keeping them away. I've seen some look like they wanted to land in the pond but decide against it once they see that floating tube. If you have the same problem I'd suggest trying the tube. It can't hurt! I also think the geese and their filth have contributed to an increase in algae growth. But they also may have introduced a snail population (the snails are new this year) which might mitigate the algae growth.

The deer haven't bothered the garden yet. This is our first year with this garden, although the spot had been used some time before for gardening. We're very pleased and surprised how well the garden has done. Used the FEL to remove 1-2 tons of rocks! We won't plant so much zuchinni next year. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

We have a family of foxes, one adult and three young ones living close by. I think they chased one of our cats this morning. All 3 cats ran to the front deck and had a stareing contest with the foxes. Hopefully this taught our cats some respect for the wild critters around here... which they need. One of them came very close to being sprayed last night by a skunk. Skunks and racoons have discovered the pile of bird seed under our feeders and make nightly visits to chow down. I rigged up a frissbee to the feeder to try to keep more of the seed off the ground. Haven't seen any coyotes yet though my wife saw one recently on her way home. I don't think the cats would fare as well against them as they would against the foxes. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Though the foxes are very bold and seem to like checking us out I think the young ones were just playing around when one of the cats came strolling by. At least I hope so!

I had a very rough time with my dealer recently but we've pretty much settled all they outstanding issues. They paid for all the costs for my 50 hour service to make some amends. I'm STILL waiting (5+ months!) for wheel spacers so I can use snow chains this winter on my Kubotoa B2710 with R4 tires. If you have a 2710 or 2910 with R4's and possibly turfs(?) and want to use chains this winter I suggest you contact your dealer ASAP! Kubota used to make spacers for an earlier model of tractor that used the same rear end but dropped them when that tractor went out of production. My dealer claims Kubota wants to contract with the company that's custom making my pair but I wouldn't want to hold my breath waiting for either party to get it together. My second Bush Hog boxblade got damaged by a forklift so I took delivery of a Tufline 160 instead. I like it at least as much as the BH BX600! I've used it a little... and need to learn a lot! A good rain does make the job look much better. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

The tractor is doing fine and I still love it!

Later- Dave

 

[Knight9]

Good to hear from you Dave. Sounds like your fun contines with the wildlife! With us being new to the place this year we didn't get a garden in. Probably a good thing as we have a doe and her fawn grazing every day where we plan on putting our garden. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I may end up reviewing the "How to deal with deer" threads next year!

Haven't seen any Canadian geese migrating quite yet from these parts. They may just be enjoying our 30 degree Celsius weather. Don't expect we'll be enjoying the sights and sounds of them heading south from around here for another month or so. After that....look out below /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif!!!

Thanks for the update.

Kevin

 

[DaveM]

Hi Kevin,

It was good to hear from you again!

Yes, this year has been a wildlife extravaganza around our place. For the most part I really enjoy it. As you've probably guessed, critters can be a problem but I've learned to not over react or react prematurely... or at least I'm trying. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif For example, I'm glad I didn't go nuts and build a large fence around our small garden to keep deer and rabbits out. It just hasn't been a problem. I realize that could change overnight but I'll deal with it if and when it occurs.

Think you'll till a garden spot this fall in preparation for next spring? Good luck!

Dave

 

[Knight9]

Hi Dave,

Ya, the plan will be to get a garden plot tilled up. I'm actually trying to figure out how to break up a very large area of virgin dirt/weeds/grass. Once it is broken up, some will remain tilled for the garden and the rest will have grass planted for lawn. I do have the tiller, but there are still some willow roots that the tiller may have problems with. Sure would like to get a local farmer to do the first cut at it!

Have a friend that is a chicken farmer. Will get several dumptruck loads of rotted old manure (some of it 20+ years old). It looks like rich dirt now. Going to mix that in and let it sit over the winter. Don't expect a real good garden for a few years as the top soil around here is thin and it is hard ugly clay under that. Just add to it and improve it over time. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Kevin