Bird problems

JohnnyRock · March 8, 2007

I've had problems with birds ruining a lot of my 'Maters as they ripen. Last year I put a net over them, but the birds were persistent. They pecked holes in the netting and found small gaps around the edges. I know mockingbirds are one type causing trouble because a few of them got stuck in the netting.

Has anyone else had problems with birds? I'm thinking about trying a faux hawk to keep them away. Any other suggestions to control our fine feathered friends?

shelleybean · March 8, 2007

I have mockingbirds too and I think I've tried almost everything, except a gun. The most tedious thing I've tried is placing a knee high stocking over each and every tomato as it began to blush. They still pecked holes in them. I bought some cheapo red plastic Christmas balls in December. I'll hang them in the garden before any of the tomatoes are really ready and hopefully the birds will peck at them and lose interest by the time the real ones are turning. Do I think this will work? Not really, but it's cheap enough that I'm willing to try it. Good luck!

feldon30 · March 8, 2007

Shelly and Roy's Bird Cage solution

**Lee** · March 8, 2007

Birds are typically not fond of maters for the eating qualities, but for the water
they contain.
Try providing your neighborhood birds another source of water (ie. bird bath) and
I'll bet they leave your maters alone.

Lee

duajones · March 8, 2007

Except for the mockingbirds Lee, I have 2 birdbaths with a drip that the birds love and I keep it clean. The mockinbirds dont eat my toms, they just poke holes in one after the other. Netting has to be the way to go

shelleybean · March 8, 2007

I have a bird bath too and it hasn't helped. I have heard that they peck holes in the fruit to attarct bugs to the tomatoes, then come back and eat the bugs.

JohnnyRock · March 8, 2007

I thinking about trying this:
http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Repellent...883537-4828656

shelleybean · March 8, 2007

I have the hooting owl and the plastic blow up snakes and those didn't work either. I hope you find a solution and share it with me!

bcday · March 8, 2007

Lots of folks string shiny cd's and aluminum pie tins around the plants. The reflections, the motion when they swing in the breeze, and the noise when the pie pans clatter against a stake or tomato cage are supposed to scare the birds.

Grub · March 8, 2007

Had good success with baseball caps, attached to hide the fruit inside... a whole mater patch of caps soon freaks the birds right out... and you can collect 'em for nix.

JohnnyRock · March 9, 2007

Thanks for all the good ideas! I found a good article that covers a lot of options: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...98-035.htm#Why
It's focus seems to be for larger farms, but some of the ideas are still useful for suburban gardeners. It says that stationary owl and hawk repellents typically don't work for very long. They suggest netting can be very effective. I guess I'll try that again, maybe with a better quality net. I also found a website that carries a lot of bird repellent products: http://www.biconet.com/birds/. I haven't ordered from them yet so I don't know if they are reputable.
JR

March 8, 2007	#1
JohnnyRock Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 71	Bird problems I've had problems with birds ruining a lot of my 'Maters as they ripen. Last year I put a net over them, but the birds were persistent. They pecked holes in the netting and found small gaps around the edges. I know mockingbirds are one type causing trouble because a few of them got stuck in the netting. Has anyone else had problems with birds? I'm thinking about trying a faux hawk to keep them away. Any other suggestions to control our fine feathered friends?

March 8, 2007	#2
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I have mockingbirds too and I think I've tried almost everything, except a gun. The most tedious thing I've tried is placing a knee high stocking over each and every tomato as it began to blush. They still pecked holes in them. I bought some cheapo red plastic Christmas balls in December. I'll hang them in the garden before any of the tomatoes are really ready and hopefully the birds will peck at them and lose interest by the time the real ones are turning. Do I think this will work? Not really, but it's cheap enough that I'm willing to try it. Good luck! __________________ Michele

March 8, 2007	#4
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Birds are typically not fond of maters for the eating qualities, but for the water they contain. Try providing your neighborhood birds another source of water (ie. bird bath) and I'll bet they leave your maters alone. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

March 8, 2007	#6
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I have a bird bath too and it hasn't helped. I have heard that they peck holes in the fruit to attarct bugs to the tomatoes, then come back and eat the bugs. __________________ Michele

March 8, 2007	#8
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I have the hooting owl and the plastic blow up snakes and those didn't work either. I hope you find a solution and share it with me! __________________ Michele

March 8, 2007	#3
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Shelly and Roy's Bird Cage solution

March 8, 2007	#5
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	Except for the mockingbirds Lee, I have 2 birdbaths with a drip that the birds love and I keep it clean. The mockinbirds dont eat my toms, they just poke holes in one after the other. Netting has to be the way to go

March 8, 2007	#9
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	Lots of folks string shiny cd's and aluminum pie tins around the plants. The reflections, the motion when they swing in the breeze, and the noise when the pie pans clatter against a stake or tomato cage are supposed to scare the birds.

March 8, 2007	#10
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Had good success with baseball caps, attached to hide the fruit inside... a whole mater patch of caps soon freaks the birds right out... and you can collect 'em for nix. Last edited by Grub; March 9, 2007 at 12:07 AM.

March 9, 2007	#11
JohnnyRock Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 71	Thanks for all the good ideas! I found a good article that covers a lot of options: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...98-035.htm#Why It's focus seems to be for larger farms, but some of the ideas are still useful for suburban gardeners. It says that stationary owl and hawk repellents typically don't work for very long. They suggest netting can be very effective. I guess I'll try that again, maybe with a better quality net. I also found a website that carries a lot of bird repellent products: http://www.biconet.com/birds/. I haven't ordered from them yet so I don't know if they are reputable. JR