Gull anti-nest building device

Abstract

A method of installing a gull repellent device having a base or fixing plate 1 and a plurality of elongated wires 4 positioned along it in a staggered angled manner. The method involving attaching the

Description

Field of the invention This invention relates to a Gull anti-nest building device, in particular, a device for attaching to the vertical side of the chimney stack above the chimney stack’s back gutter. Background The chimney stack’s back gutter sits at the rear of the chimney, the back gutter is located at the junction where the bottom of the chimney stack meets the sloping roof. The back gutter is a part of the chimney’s flashing and is often made of lead or other similar waterproof material; the purpose of the back gutter is to divert the rainwater around and away from the chimney stack. The back gutter and the adjacent roof tiles, make an ideal nesting spot for Gulls such as but not restricted to Herring Gulls. The vertical face of the chimney stack provides both support and shelter for the Gulls nest and prevents the nest from being blown or washed away. Gulls and their nesting material may damage or interfere with the effectiveness of the back gutter or the adjacent tiles which may result in water ingress in the property. Additionally, Gulls will often return to nest in the same spot the following year, resulting in loud noise disturbances, fouling on the owners' and neighbours’ properties, and aggressive behaviour from the Gulls when trying to protect their young. There is a need to prevent a nest from being constructed by the Gulls to avoid the above occurring. Devices to prevent Gulls from nesting on top of the back gutter have been known for many years, however, these devices have a base or fixing plate that is designed for attachment directly onto the back gutter or direct attachment to the adjacent tiles. These devices have limitations as Gulls can overcome them by walking up to the device and using their bills to damage or displace the base or fixing plate. In addition, they will often stand on them or simply build their nest right on top of the device, often gaining easy access from the sloping roof. Once these Gull deterrents are damaged, displaced or filled with nesting material, the device may be less effective. Due to these limitations, there is a need for a device with a base or fixing plate that can be installed out of reach of the Gulls and a device the Gulls cannot damage, remove, land on top of, or cover with nesting material. Statement of Invention To overcome these problems, the present invention provides a system to overcome the drawbacks of previous devices, in particular, this invention is a device with a base or fixing plate that does not need to be attached on to the surface on which the Gull perches or nests upon. According to this invention, there is provided a Gull anti-nest building device that prevents Gulls from nesting on a chimney stack’s back gutter or the adjacent roof tiles. This anti-nest-building device is not reliant on any part of the device touching, being attached, or fixed to the surface that might otherwise be used to support a nest. This device is intended to be installed before the Gull nesting season starts. This apparatus will comprise a base or fixing plate for the attachment of the device to the vertical surface of a chimney stack, above the chimney stacks back gutter. A plurality of elongated wires will protrude from the base or fixing plate, and, aided by gravity, the wires will drop down so that the tips of the wire will be positioned so that they are suspended directly above the chimney stack’s back gutter and above the adjacent roof tiles (The wires will not touch any part of the roof, but be suspended above the tiles and back gutter). The base of the fixing plate will be comprised in such a way that the angle in which the wires protrude from the base or fixing plate will cause the wire trajectory to suspend in a staggered manner following the pitch of the roof. In turn, this allows the wires to be suspended above the back gutter and the adjacent tiles without actually touching the surface itself. It may be envisaged that as the Gull tries to approach the back gutter or the adjacent tiles the tips of the wire would touch the Gull's head or body. This contact would repel the Gull causing them to take flight or abandon this area. Additionally, the base or fixing plate would be provided with lines of weakness to allow the base of the device to be snapped into smaller sections. The base or fixing plate would have fixing holes in the base to allow for installation such as but not limited to screwing the plate or gluing the plate into place. This allows the device to be adapted for use on different types of chimney stacks that may have varying lengths. Introduction to Drawings The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the Gull Anti-Nesting device, Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the Gull Anti-Nesting device of Figure 1 in position on the vertical side of the chimney stack above the back gutter and adjacent tiles, Figure 3 is an enlarged version of Figure 2 showing the positioning of the wires above the chimney stack’s back gutter and adjacent tiles Detailed Description of Drawings In figure 1, the base or fixing plate 1 can be any means of correctly supporting the wire fingers 4. The base or fixing plate 1 could be constructed of any material such as but not limited to plastic, metal or any other suitable material. The base or fixing plate 1 would have fixing holes 2 to allow for installation such as screwing or gluing to the vertical side of a chimney stack 8 (best shown in Figure 2 and 3), specifically above the back gutter 6 (best shown in Figure 2 and 3). The base or fixing plate 1 will additionally have lines of weakness 3, which will allow the base or fixing plate 1 to be snapped into smaller sections. This allows the base or fixing plate 1 to be snapped to specific lengths to suit the varying widths of the chimney stacks. The protruding wires 4 could be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material. The protruding wires 4 are attached to the base or fixing plate 1 in such a way that the configuration, shape, length and tensile strength of the wires 4, provide an effective deterrent against Gulls wanting to build a nest on the chimney stacks back gutter 6 or the adjacent tiles 7. The wires 4 are attached to the base or fixing plate 1 in such a manner that the wires 4 will protrude from the base or fixing plate 1 with a trajectory allowing the tips 5 of the wire 4 to fall in a manner that will follow the slope of the roof. This will allow the tips 5 of the wires 4 to suspend directly above the chimney stacks back gutter 6 and the adjacent tiles 7. The wires 4 will suspend above the back gutter 6 and adjacent tiles 7 following the pitch of the roof but not actually touching the tiles 7 or the back gutter 6. As can be seen in Figure 2 and 3, the wires 4 are effective because they protrude from the base or fixing plate 1, and with the aid of gravity, the tips 5 of the wire 4 would be positioned so they are suspended directly above the Chimney stacks back gutter 6 and adjacent tiles 7. The position in which the wires 4 are suspended will cause the tips 5 of the wire 4 to touch the Gulls head, back or body when they try to walk under the wires 4. The wires 4 are staggered in a way that allows the protruding wires 4 to not only overhang the back gutter 6 but also the adjacent tiles 7. This keeps the Gulls far away from the back gutter 6 and adjacent tiles 7 where the Gulls often build a nest. The wires 4 touching the Gull will not harm the bird, but will irritate them enough that the Gull will want to take flight or abandon their nest-building activity. The way in which the wires 4 are attached to the base or fixing platel, combined with their shape, length, and tensile strength would give them the resilience to regain their original shape and position after being touched by the Gulls. Due to the position of this device, the Gulls cannot drop nesting material into the wires 4 and cannot damage or displace the base or fixing plate 1 as it would be out of reach. Any skilled installer would realise that this anti-gull nest-building device could also be attached to any other vertical wall or surface to prevent Gulls from nesting or perching on any ledges below. 08 01 25

Claims

1. A method of installing a gull anti-nest building device, the method comprising:taking a gull anti-nest building device with a base or fixing plate and a plurality of elongated wires protruding therefrom, the angles at which the wires protrude being in a staggered manner; andattaching the device to the vertical surface of a chimney stack, above a back gutter of the chimney stack, such that, aided by gravity, the wires drop down and tips of the wires are positioned so that they are suspended directly above the back gutter and above adjacent roof tiles, and the staggered manner of the wire trajectories follow the pitch of the roof, such that the wires do not touch surfaces of the tiles or of the back gutter.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of attaching the device comprises screwing the base or fixing plate to the vertical surface using fixing holes provided in the base or fixing plate.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of attaching the device comprises gluing the base or fixing plate to the vertical surface.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, including shortening the base or fixing plate to a required length by snapping the base or fixing plate at one or more lines of weakness.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the step of taking the device comprises taking a device including wires whose shape, length and tensile strength causes the wires to regain their original shape and position after being touched by gulls.

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