A bird deterrent apparatus for preventing birds from landing near a location to be protected, such as, but not limited to, a boat. The bird deterrent apparatus is easy to install and remove, and does not interfere with the normal use of the location. The bird deterrent apparatus comprises a line retractor, a retractable barrier line, and associated hardware and barrier line guides to secure the line retractor and the barrier line to structural elements in proximity to the location to be protected from perching birds and their associated debris.