Bird Nests

[finbully]

Pretty soon, our feathered friends will begin to build their nests in an annual ritual of survival of the species. I found out last spring a great place for a concealed nest is in the plenum inside the top cowling of an outboard motor. So if you store your boat outside with the motor uncovered don't be surprised to find a nest inside the cowling like I did. During a periodic check of my engine, I took off the top cowl and noticed pine needles lying inside the motor area. I started cleaning them out by hand and then realized there were more than just a few. I happened to look at the inside top of the cowling and found a bird nest. I ended up disassembling the plenum of the cowling in order to get at the nest, which I proceeded to remove from my territory (sorry little bird). I can't say I discovered the bird nest by sensing a performance loss while motoring, I just found it during a routine inspection - admiring the fine power plant that drives the Z, whose unofficial name is Digger.

 

[puddle jumper]

Good tip thanks,

Puddle, emoUSA

 

[Guest]

When you said bird nests, I figured you had seen some of my reels. Dirt daubers are the culprits around my house, they even plugged up the pee hole of a 25 evinrude I had a few years a go. They will build mud nests in anything, even screw holes.

 

[finbully]

Doc1 you can't have them any better (or worse) than me!emoDoh

 

[THutch]

Dirt dobbers filled up the outlet to my bilge pump. I discovered this problem when I lowered the boat from my lift, trolled out to the main channel, and turned around to start the big motor only to see the boat full of water. An operational bilge pump would have been handy in this circumstance, but luckily I can get the plug in without having to be on shore. Needless to say, I had to return to the lift for a drainage procedure.

Little critters shore can be a nuisance!

 

[H-1]

That looks like every bait caster i own.

 

[Nickajack Angler]

Louie, my 12 yr old, says from the back of the boat "Dad. I have a loop..... you said when I get a loop to let you know." I turned around to find 1/2 the line off the reel. Line had been on there about a week. The lovely Bird nests... in the motor or the back of the boat, they are all interesting.