Do owl decoys work?

[Tig]

Our pool seems to be popular with the birds this year. Larger bird leaving large turds is really making a mess in and out of the water. If I sit an owl decoy in a spot close to and over looking the pool will the birds stay away. I've seen pigeons up close to owl decoys downtown and I was told that the owl decoy trick will only work if you get the spot right. Does anyone have any experience that they can share with me?

 

[jinman]

I don't have any first-hand experience, but I've observed others using plastic owls in their gardens. They seem to work for a few weeks and then you have to clean the bird poop off of them too after that.

 

[Knight9]

I'm in the midst of an experiment on that very thing! I bought one from Lee Valley. From the research I did, a "solid" plastic owl is quickly learned by the birds. The one from Lee Valley has a moving head. The instructions also say to move it around to change things up. I have not seen a bird in my orchard since I put it up (about 2 weeks) and I'm moving it to a new location today. I figure for the price of an owl, it's worth a try.

 

[mjarrels]

Never worked for me.

mark

 

[ragkar]

Spring is a tough time at general aviation airports. Those engine cowl holes attract birds looking for a good place for their nests. And the straw, twigs etc will catch fire if not removed from an engine.
My fbo tried using a dummy owl placed on the upright blade of a propeller. We thought it was working until one day some one looked out and saw a bird sitting on the head of the owl.
No, they don't work.

 

[Piperflyer]

They don't work

 

[RobertN]

I stick with duck decoys. They're easier to call in, and taste good grilled or baked in a clay pot. There are tons of decoys available, in various size, breed etc. And, talk about calls! There's bazillions of them available. And video's too. And, they have a fairly long open season.

Owls, well, there is no season on them. They'd be hard to call in, and would probably taste terrible. There's only a couple of decoys and calls available, all cheapo's.

 

[Redbug]

I guess the pie tins and CD's are useless, too? I see them all the time twirling around and have wondered.

Sorry Robert, that's after you eat the pie or mess up a CD...

 

[HappyCPE]

I have an inflatable owl inside the doorway of one of the barns. In my forgetfullness [premature old age?] every time I open the door I am startled by the hanging vinyl raptor. So, I think they do work.

 

[Skyco]

They do work for a short period. Then the birds figure it out- kinda funny actually watching small birds attack the plastic owl from behind.
I had a similar bird problem- had a tower near my deck for amateur radio- yep birds sat on it and pooped on the deck. Moved the tower. BTW a woodpecker comes every spring and drums the heck out of a metal antenna on the tower...ding ding ding Found out that is a territory marking thing, he's not looking for bugs.

There is a large inflatable ball with giant eyes that supposedly works as it constantly turns and rotates in the slightest breeze. Might google one up and try it.