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Subject Topic: Seagull deterrent for tent roof
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PersonDeborahTurner
via mobile 06/5/2026 at 9:17am
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The flat top of my pyramid tent seems to be a tempting place for seagulls to land… and mess.

I have managed to deter them by slinging bunting between the pole tops (two at the front and one centre pole) but the bunting flaps on the tent canvas at night if there is wind, and keeps me awake.

Any suggestions?

The poles come through and are then topped with rain caps. Could I modify the rain caps to hold fine kite struts to put some deterrent lines or little flags on?

I can’t reach the pole tops once the tent is pitched.


PersonFiona W
via mobile 06/5/2026 at 10:30am
 Location: Ayrshire
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Hmm. I guess we didn’t camp in seagull areas with our Cabanon Pyramide. But birds still flew overhead & dumped: migrating Geese make a huge mess…
Smaller bunting (cut off the tips?) or fine cable like you’d have for lights? Or a small tarp or light groundsheet that you can wash or bin when it’s too dirty?

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PersonSomersetcamping
via mobile 06/5/2026 at 12:03pm
 Location: Bridgwater somerset
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We fly a flag on a fibreglass pole this seems to work for us,cwr do take it down at nite time if its to windy as it gets noisy blowing jn the wind.
Thou we did have a small bird fly into our tent last year and got trapped between the window and a curtain and messed all over the window cleaner up the meat we could buy it's left a nasty stain on the curtain as we can't remove the curtain to wash it properly


PersonAncient Uncle
via mobile 06/5/2026 at 4:04pm
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If you do manage to find a deterrent, please let me know. Our neighbour insists on feeding the seagulls who use our garden as the flight path. Our cars and caravan are smothered in the stuff. I swear I heard a gull the other day squawking the dambusters march!


PersonDeborahTurner
via mobile 06/5/2026 at 10:20pm
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Fiona W, good thinking! I will try cutting each bunting flag down from triangles to shorter narrower strips which should be less flappy but still stop the tent looking like a landing strip for gulls!

I hadn’t thought of putting one of the tall fibreglass flagpoles next up the tent, but as you say, Somersetcamping, the flags can be quite noisy and the seagulls start their Dambuster routine ( AncientUncle) by 4am so I wouldn’t want to take it down at night.

One of my favourite sites, up on a cliff over the sea, so breezy and seagull infested!

There must be a market for seagull deterrent modified rain caps, surely. A Dragon’s Den opportunity?


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PersonSomersetcamping
via mobile 07/5/2026 at 8:13am
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Where i work is right on the coast and w earr.infested with seagulls, they use a fibreglass pole but with a bird of prey shaped wind sock on it. Works really well, I think if we had a problem at home or on a campsite maybe I would go down that route rather than a flag. We fly a flag more so my daughter and son (13 and 4) can find the tent if they get lost on the campsite. They have both picked out there own flags and know what to look for. But they do a good job off keeping the birds away as well.


Personbirder99
07/5/2026 at 8:23am
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Take a look at https://www.birdspikesonline.co.uk/Menu/Defender-Bird-Spike-Products

They also have a few products that are not listed on the above website but if you give them a call the people there are very helpful and it is a family owned company producing British (Devon) made products.

I use their products for everything from the top rails of swings and PV panels through to very large retail premises and warehouses.

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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


PersonFiona W
via mobile 07/5/2026 at 1:44pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 06/5/2026
If you do manage to find a deterrent, please let me know. Our neighbour insists on feeding the seagulls who use our garden as the flight path. Our cars and caravan are smothered in the stuff. I swear I heard a gull the other day squawking the dambusters march!


The suggestions that follow, for a fibreglass pole with a bird kite, is a deterrent that’s readily available online. I’ve seen them on several sites too, installed by the owners, and they’re extremely effective… while there’s a breeze or wind. In flat calm, the ‘bird’ is grounded & as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

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2026: 6 sites / 13 nights. 2025: 13/27. 2024: 20/41. 2023: 9/23. 2022: 13/35. 2021: 11/29. 2020: 4/20. 2019: 13/35. 2018: 20/33. 2017: 10/22. 2016: 19/33. 2015: 15/27. Didn't count sites/nights 1976 to 2014.     


PersonDeborahTurner
via mobile 07/5/2026 at 7:59pm
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I watched a very aggressive gang of crows harass a harrier of some kind away from the trees round the site so I am not wholly confident that a defenceless fake bird of prey would last long!



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