Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 19:12:09 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Re: Conowingo Dam Noisemakers In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 24 Feb 2000 17:06:19 -0500 from The Patuxent NWR National Visior's Center had a similar problem a couple of years ago, although it never got the point of damaging the roof (which was pretty new). We went out there and there were 100s of gulls all over the roof, resting after a feed at the Sandy Hill landfill across the way. They *were* making quite a mess! Anyway, we spoke with an official about the birds and he said they were going to install electrical cable over the roof to deliver a reminder to the birds to "stay off." This was installed year before last I think, and this has solved the problem without having to resort to environmentally insensitive noisemakers. Last year of course, there were loads of good gulls on the lake. (THis year the lake was totally frozen for weeks, making it less attractive to the birds who come to drink and bathe; we went out several times and never managed to see many gulls. Even the number at the landfill seems down from last year. Just not a great "gull year" I'm afraid.) The point is -- there are other solutions to the problem. Constant banging of a cannon is pretty annoying to workers, too. Maybe if the report is true MOS could suggest at the power company contact Patuxent for advice. Gail Mackiernan ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================