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Done spending money....

4/29/2014

3 Comments

 
Picture
I ordered the light unit to keep the geese off the beach.  That's it, I'm done spending.  I'll have a little more in the material to frame the signs, but that's it. 

This unit is expensive at $578 BUT, it's guaranteed to work.  Their normal guarantee is 90 days.  I negotiated that out to 6 months.  The cycle of the geese in nesting, having babies (goslings, right?), etc. has something to do with the results.  So I wanted to make sure we gave it ample time to work and could verify the results.  The cage around the unit is supposed to make it vandal and theft proof.  The manufacturer told me they've never had one stolen or damaged when using the cage (but that part is not guaranteed).  I'm crossing my fingers.

Let me summarize the science behind this as it was explained to me by the company representative.  You put the unit in the ground at the height of a goose.  It blinks once every two seconds.  Geese have eyelids but they are unable to hide their eyes when sleeping.  She said they were the only fowl who couldn't tuck their heads under their wings and sleep.  So they can't get away from the blinking, they think it could be a predator, and they just avoid the area day or night.  She said that if I was sleeping and had my eyes closed but someone was flashing a light in my face every 2 seconds, I would probably leave and go to the other room to sleep.  I told her I would and she said "so would the geese and then they just stay away".  And since their eyes are much more sensitive, it doesn't take as much of a nuisance light.  Good analogy I thought.  Worked on me.

Let me tell you why I thought it was worth spending the money on this.  It's mostly our little ones that are using the beach.  I've gotten MANY comments on how people would use the beach more if the geese droppings weren't there.  So I thought it was worth $578 to ensure our young ones didn't have to dig up droppings when building their sand castles.  If it works, and does for years, it will be more than worth it.  In addition, the money back guarantee will be exercised if it doesn't work.  I've got a reminder set up on my calendar for 1 week before the 6 month deadline.  If it's not working by then, it's going back.




3 Comments
gary buch
5/5/2014 01:56:09 pm

if it should not work, you could try "low- tech"..... my in laws used a plastic swan tied to an anchor in their pond a few years back. swans and geese do not get along. as I recall the geese moved on after a short while.

Reply
K Reesa
6/10/2014 10:34:49 pm

Would love to know if this really works on your lake. I am a board member on our lake in ohio and we are constantly battling geese in certain areas we would like to keep clean for picnic use. We are goose free at the moment because they have molted somewhere but they will be back when they have their wings again!.

Reply
Tom
6/11/2014 01:09:44 am

K.

So far it's looking good. We have geese and about 15 to 20 babies floating around the lake. They had already nested when I put the light up. Fortunately, none of the nests were near the beach. The company said they'll never leave the babies until they are old enough to fly, so it would delay the effect of the light. I rake the beach about once every two weeks or more often when I'm there. I haven't seen geese on the beach and the waste is little to none. What is there could have floated to the beach.

There are a few full time families there with young children. They use the beach regularly and know how bad it was in the past. I'm using them as my rain gauge as to the effectiveness of the light. I wanted to give it some time before I start gathering opinions. I may do that this coming weekend.

I've also got a reminder set up in my calendar for a week before the 6 month guarantee is up. That's when I'll make the official call.

Thanks for the comment.

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    The how and why.

    Years ago when I was looking for a lake front cabin I stumbled across a realtor ad for Lake of the Oaks.  There was nothing on the web about our lake.

    Everything had to be learned by chasing people down and making phone calls.  I couldn't believe that in the age of the Internet,  information about the lake was left in the Stone Age.  I decided to do something about that when I became an owner.

    Always interested in technology, I enjoy providing information and updates to fellow owners and prospects. Please let me know if its working.



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