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RE: BEACHNET==> Gull wiring at beaches

Also, remember when you are going into gull colonies, there are 15 Canadian Wildlife Service colonies that have been monitored for contaminant concentrations since 1973 and 10 State of Michigan colonies that have been monitored since 2002.  Make sure you are not destroying eggs on one of these essential monitoring colonies since we have been analyzing gull eggs to determine trends of historic environmental pollutants (think DDT, PCBs, etc.) and we have found new compounds and been able to track their increase (think PBDEs, PFOS, PFOA) in all of the Great Lakes and connecting channels from this important monitoring program.  If one of your islands is within this network or you are unsure, contact me or Chip Weseloh of CWS. 

Thanks, Bill Bowerman







At 03:24 PM 11/28/2007, Karen.Terbush@oprhp.state.ny.us wrote:
That is true, however, the USFWS has recently revised their permit system for egg addling for resident Canada geese.  It is a much easier process now that can be done with an on-line registration at https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR.  Harassment of geese and gulls and tactics to deter them, such as the monofilament line over a beach, does not require a permit as long as you are not killing them.
 
Karen Terbush

From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net [mailto:owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Alm
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:45 PM
To: Terbush, Karen (ALB); Eric.OBrien@dnr.iowa.gov; beachnet@great-lakes.net
Cc: bwblanch@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Subject: RE: BEACHNET==> Gull wiring at beaches

Hi all,

I would just like to add one caution...

Both gulls and geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and according to the Treaty you need you need federal permits to "pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, cause to be shipped, deliver for transportation, transport, cause to be transported, carry, or cause to be carried by any means whatever, receive for shipment, transportation or carriage, or export, at any time, or in any manner, any migratory bird, included in the terms of this Convention . . . for the protection of migratory birds . . . or any part, nest, or egg of any such bird." (16 U.S.C. 703)

So this treaty excludes any harm to nests, eggs, fledglings, adults without proper permitting obtained in advance.

Liz


Eric -
At New York State Parks we have not tried the gull wiring at any of our beaches but our sister agency, the NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation has used it at a large beach on Lake George with some success.  I spoke to Brett Blanchard (518-623-1200) and he offered the following information.  They use 30 - 40 lb test fishing line and string it from existing metal poles at a height of 7-8 feet.  The poles are approximately 18 - 20" apart.  This is a very inexpensive solution and is generally effective for a while until the birds get used to it.  They redo it every year as needed.  They also use forestry flagging on poles as a scare tactic for the gulls.  Brett is willing to discuss this with you if you have further questions.  He is also looking for some photos of it that he could possibly pass along.
 
As others have stated in previous replies, geese are a whole different situation.  With them, you also need multiple tools to keep them off your beach.  We have found that egg oiling in March and April if you can find the nests, is the most useful.  If the adults have no young it is much easier to scare them away.  Once they have molted and can't fly, if they are at your beach, you are stuck with them for the summer.  Border Collies seem to be very effective in combination with some other tactics such as remote control speed boats, and fencing on the beach and possibly in the water to prevent swim ins.  We have also been experimenting with Green Laser pens at night.  Several of our park managers have reported that this works really well to scare the geese.  It may also work on gulls, we haven't tried yet.  Feel free to give me a call with any questions.
Good Luck!
Karen B. Terbush
Environmental Analyst 2
NYS Office of Parks,Recreation
and Historic Preservation
Environmental Management Bureau
Agency Bldg. 1, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12238
(518) 474-0409
Fax 474-7013
From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net [ mailto:owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of Mark Gold
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:26 PM
To: Eric Edwards; Eric [DNR] O'Brien; beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: RE: BEACHNET==> Gull wiring at beaches
Also, city of L.A. at Cabrillo Beach and LA County did this at Marina Del Rey in Mothers beach.  Eric is correct ? the success has been spotty.
From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net [ mailto:owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of Eric Edwards
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:18 AM
To: Eric [DNR] O'Brien; beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: RE: BEACHNET==> Gull wiring at beaches

 
Eric
 
Geese are not a problem in Southern California, but sea gulls are.  A number of cities have used monofilament line in an effort to deter the gulls, with varying degrees success.  A specific example would be the City of Avalon which is located on Santa Catalina Island.  I don't know the cost, but you could contact the city for details. 
 
 
 
Eric Edwards R.E.H.S.
Chief Environmental Health Specialist
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Water Quality Program 626-430-5420
eedwards@ph.lacounty.gov
>>> Elizabeth Alm <alm1ew@cmich.edu> 11/27/2007 9 19 >>>
Apparently, from my conversations with a number of gull/geese deterrent experts,  gull and geese deterrent strategies may need to be quite different.  Geese are rather skittish and can be chased away relatively easily and will then tend to stay away, but gulls are much more persistent and harassment techniques must be consistent and protracted.
Liz
Eric:
 
My involvement with this network evolved from the Blue Flag designation at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park in Ontario. Your question about gull wiring at beaches reminded me of a recent presentation I attended that was given by Scott Thomas, Superintendent at Six Mile Provincial Park in Ontario. I checked with Scott to see if he had any written reports or an update that I could share. There isnt a report but Scott did share the following:
 
At Six Mile Provincial Park, a net type product like monofilament was not used as the issues related to geese and they tend to not fly onto the beach but instead land on the water and swim in to the beach area. Tactics comprised of motion activated sprinklers (with signage) during shoulder season only,  staff harassment by driving Gators on the beach areas etc., hanging coveralls from trees, and professional goose control canine performing random visits. Of course campers on the beach are a deterrent in high use times.
 
The results from these activities included:
No closed beach days which is a reduction from 2 to 4 bad water quality samples annually that resulted in closed beaches.
No written complaints from park users which is a significant reduction from dozens of written complaints in previous years.
In conclusion, although there is no one technique that appeared to work best; this combination of approaches has proven to be successful in deterring geese from the beaches at Six Mile Provincial Park. Generally the trick was to create an unwelcoming and unsettling environment which contributed to encouraging the geese to move on.
 
John Fisher
Park Superintendent
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Ontario Parks
From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net [ mailto:owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of O'Brien, Eric [DNR]
Sent: November 26, 2007 3:39 PM
To: beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: BEACHNET==> Gull wiring at beaches
 
Hello all
 
Does anyone have examples of cases where wiring was used to deter gulls/geese from beaches?  I have heard some people talk about them being a cheap deterrent, but the only example I could find was from Ottowa and cost sever hundred thousand dollars.  Any information about who to contact, design schematics or pictures of the systems would be very helpful. 

 
Thanks,
Eric
 
_______________________________________________
Eric OBrien
Beach Monitoring Coordinator
Iowa DNR, Water Monitoring
109 Trowbridge Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242-1319
 
Office: (319) 353-2835
Cell: (319) 560-6128
Email: Eric.OBrien@dnr.iowa.gov
_______________________________________________
 
_______________________________________
Elizabeth Wheeler Alm, Ph.D.
Professor, Microbiology
157 Brooks Hall
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI  48859
email: alm1ew@cmich.edu
web address: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/alm1ew/index.html

Office phone: 989-774-2503
Lab phone: 989-774-1862
Dept. phone: 989-774-3227
Dept. fax: 989-774-3462

_______________________________________
Elizabeth Wheeler Alm, Ph.D.
Professor, Microbiology
157 Brooks Hall
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI  48859
email: alm1ew@cmich.edu
web address: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/alm1ew/index.html

Office phone: 989-774-2503
Lab phone: 989-774-1862
Dept. phone: 989-774-3227
Dept. fax: 989-774-3462

William W. Bowerman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Wildlife Ecology-Environmental Toxicology
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
261 Lehotsky Hall
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina  29634
864-656-6192 (O) 864-656-3304 (F)
wbowerm@clemson.edu

Chair, Faculty Senate Welfare Committee