Maybe we were moored too close to lobster boats and work barges and rafts holding traps. Maybe Brio is too inviting a platform with her wide deck forward of the house. Perhaps it was the full moon that made it easy for these birds to spot Brio's inviting locations, even during the wee hours of the night. Maybe it was Steve's great cooking. Who knows? But during the last two nights we have been visited by many birds.
Among the more common visitors are laughing gulls. Excuse us, but they are no laughing matter.
These gulls ordinarily keep their distance, but last night we could hear the clicking noise of their feet on the decks. Getting up, we discovered maybe 6 to 8 gulls standing on the deck with their bills pointing into the slight breeze. What we missed was the single gull on the front of the house. But all of them protested when they realized we wanted them OFF THE BOAT! In a few seconds, they all took flight, complaining about being disturbed.
Next are the most foul fowls around, the cormorant.
These birds spend much of their time swimming and diving to catch their fishy food. So they have webbed feet, which are distinctive when seen through the clear hatches from under the decks on Brio. Webbed feet are a give-away that aggressive action needs to be taken. Flipping open the hatch can upend the bird. It also provides the startle response. That gets the bird's attention. Dropping the hatch gives the loud noise that upsets the bird. Then reopen the hatch and give a sharp command, "Go overboard!" And the bird complies.
Immediate action is necessary to fight these birds off, even if it is 2 am. Especially if it is 2 am. Otherwise, the birds are happy to leave all sorts of remnants of unfinished fish guts and other tasty morsels all over the deck. Yuck.
Be gone!
Tonight, we hope for a quieter night. Last night was in the Cranberries, surrounded by birds and work boats. Tonight is in Buckle Harbor on the northwest corner of Swans Island. No work barges or lobster boats here! And no shore birds are yet in evidence. Just wild sheep on the nearby Buckle Island. Our fingers are crossed.
Cheers!
Brio
Comentários