My husband and I were so happy when our long-held dream of owning a pool at our beach-side home became a reality two years ago. We felt that we lived in paradise! Our family did, too—especially the little grandchildren, who were just learning to swim.
However, early last year that dream seemed to become a nightmare. Every day for a period of almost two months grackles (large blackbirds) deposited their waste in our beautiful pool and on the pool deck.
We researched many possible solutions on the Internet. Suggestions ranged from a few dollars to several hundred—from setting up giant balloons with scary eyes to machines emitting loud or ultrasonic sounds of a “known predator” to scare them. Of course, each “solution” had the negative side effect of taking away more of the beauty and quiet of our home.
