Birds pecking off tomato leaves?

[Vespertino]

To my newbie horror I've noticed missing leaves and nipped-off tomato flowers with no sign of bugs anywhere. Some of the leaf damage is different, while some are nipped off the stem, others in the same area look torn with longer scratches or pinch marks that look like it was made from a beak rather than a teeny bug maw. And it's not just my tomato plants, it's also been happening to my basil and sage plants. One sage plant has been completely picked clean of leaves.

I suspect birds because I checked for bugs and found nothing. There was also a very disgusting splatter of bird dookie on one of the leaves near the damage. I have a tomato cage called an "ultimato" and I noticed the damage is on sections near where a horizontal bar is placed- perfect for a bird perch.

Has anyone else had damage similar to this and found it to be birds? Or am I blaming the wrong pest?

I'm particularly ★★★★ed that whatever it was nipped off half of my brandywine tomato flowers, brandywine isn't known for being prolific, so every tomato blossom is precious.

In the meantime I put some silvery holographic stars and ribbons around the plant. I've also made an organza bag and slipped it over my tomatoes, I have more bags to make to protect them all. I might go to lowes and see if they have an owl decoy. What works to keep those feathered buggers away? I'd hate to have to smother my plants in a bird-net burka.

[livinonfaith]

Hmmm, that is strange! Honestly, I haven't heard much about birds targeting the tomato foliage. Usually it's the fruit they go after. Unless maybe they are using the leaves for nests?

If that is the case, maybe they will stop once the nest is built.

But it may be something else. Did you check carefully for signs of bugs or worms? Do you have deer? (they will eat almost anything)

How high were the marks? I had some fruit damage in one of my potted tomatoes and found the culprit to be a box turtle! He was able to stretch himself up pretty high, too!

[KarenO]

english aka house sparrows will do it. especially when they are nesting/have babies to feed.
KO

[Vespertino]

Originally Posted by livinonfaith

Hmmm, that is strange! Honestly, I haven't heard much about birds targeting the tomato foliage. Usually it's the fruit they go after. Unless maybe they are using the leaves for nests?

If that is the case, maybe they will stop once the nest is built.

But it may be something else. Did you check carefully for signs of bugs or worms? Do you have deer? (they will eat almost anything)

How high were the marks? I had some fruit damage in one of my potted tomatoes and found the culprit to be a box turtle! He was able to stretch himself up pretty high, too!

The missing leaves are always at the top of the plant, not the bottom leaves, just the new tender ones. Sadly that's where the terminal leaves and flowers are. I literally checked every leaf and the picked through the cedar mulch below the plant looking for bugs and found nothing, the tomato plants are clean. I'm gardening on a patio one floor up from the ground in an apartment complex, so the only pests that can reach my plants are winged bugs and birds.

Unless there's a rogue locust visiting my patio whenever I have my back turned... Hrmm...

Originally Posted by KarenO

english aka house sparrows will do it. especially when they are nesting/have babies to feed.
KO

I've seen a pair of House Finches hovering around my patio, they're my prime suspect. I've read about birds picking leaves off of plants when they're thirsty for water. It's been hot the past few days.

Anyway I've gotten an owl decoy, I'll make sure to move it around every day. I hope that ends the problem. If that doesn't work I'm looking at bird netting.

[Mark0820]

I used to have problems with Starlings picking the tops out of my tomato plants when I first set the plants out in the garden. They also picked at marigold leaves. For a long time, I didn't know what was picking at my tomato plants and marigolds. Then one day, I looked out the window and saw a Starling. It appeared to be using the leaves as material to build a nest.

[Vespertino]

I think we have starlings here too, I think I've seen a few. But around my apartment it's mostly swallows, finches and mourning doves. The ones daring enough to come onto my patio have been the Finches and mourning doves- though lately the finches have been around a lot.

I did a little research and, yes indeed, house finches do pick off foliage. They're more known for minor crop damage with picking seeds, fruits and berries, but they also like to nip at young tomato plants and not just the fruit when they turn red.

I got my owl decoy and holographic ribbons out. I'll be moving the owl every day since I'm on my patio twice a day to water and check on my babies.

Grrr. I love nature until it messes with my food plants...

[DogsandDirt]

I have seen house finches pick off leaves from my asparagus fern, moss rose, and portulaca, but not tomato plants. They also take strands off my coco fiber hanging baskets. Maybe compromise with them and put a basket or pot on your patio that has a coco fiber liner and they'll leave your tomatoes alone.

[livinonfaith]

I sure hope that owl works! That is definitely frustrating!

Sorry for the poor advice earlier. I forgot you were gardening on your patio. Kind of rules out turtles and deer, unless they are the flying types.

Hopefully, all of your efforts will move them on to some more hospitable place.

[Vespertino]

Originally Posted by DogsandDirt

I have seen house finches pick off leaves from my asparagus fern, moss rose, and portulaca, but not tomato plants. They also take strands off my coco fiber hanging baskets. Maybe compromise with them and put a basket or pot on your patio that has a coco fiber liner and they'll leave your tomatoes alone.

That's a good idea, I'll see if that helps. I have some twiggy cedar mulch too.

Originally Posted by livinonfaith

I sure hope that owl works! That is definitely frustrating!

Sorry for the poor advice earlier. I forgot you were gardening on your patio. Kind of rules out turtles and deer, unless they are the flying types.

Hopefully, all of your efforts will move them on to some more hospitable place.

No worries, it was good advice. In hindsight I should remember to mention I'm patio gardening more often- my fault.

The owl doesn't seem to work, or at least not more than a few feet's radus. I lost 8 more sage leaves off of a new store-bought plant since yesterday and my oregano was also pecked at. They don't even seem to be using the leaves, they just peck them off and drop them. My tomato plants were left alone, but it might be because the owl was perched on top of the tomato trellis. I've put up more holographic ribbons and stars where I think the birds are landing. I'll know by tomorrow if it's working.

[Vespertino]

I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but the owl (moved daily) along with the holographic ribbons and stars seem to be working when used together. I haven't lost any tomato, sage or basil leaves in two days. It's a pity that the birds killed two sage plants (grown from seed) and ate about 5 blossoms off my brandywine before I had the problem figured out.

[Sun City Linda]

This time of year I always get Blue Jays in my yard. They are large and aggressive birds. This year after they got all my early strawberries but before they went after my early tomatoes I made a peace offering. Every morning I refill the bird bath and set several shelled peanuts out for them. I do see them landing on my ultimato plant supports but no leaf damage that I see.

So far so good!. I too have notice birds pulling apart the coco basket liners, I think I will put one out in plain site.

[pinklady5]

I've personally witnessed Starlings snatching the leaves off of my neighbors tomato plants. It looks like they like the really young plants.

[RobinB]

I have quail problems, but they nibble on the lower branches that they can reach from the ground. later on, I have problems with other birds pecking on tomatoes that are ripening. I have tried the holographic tape, but didn't have much luck. Last year, I got some tin pie plates and silver curling ribbon at the dollar store, and strung them up to bang together in the wind. I also use mylar pinwheels. I also think it helps to move things around occasionally, because they get used to things being where they are and get bold after a while. Sometimes, when I have some ripening fruit that I REALLY want, I'll cover part of the plant with lightweight row cover for a little while. I hate the bird netting, because the birds will just peck right through it because they can still see the fruit. Plus, if you leave it on, your plants will start growing through the netting.

[Mojave]

We have a slew of birds here, starlings, scrub jays, mockingbirds, and a bunch I can't name. We actually have more than our neighbors because my son is a bird nut!

He feeds the wild birds, which definitely attracts them, but they stick to the food he puts out and leave my plants alone. I have strawberries in plain sight and they leave them alone, I've never known birds to pass up strawberries.

[Sun City Linda]

Yep. I just picked more strawberries this morning. I keep a plate of wild bird food, sunflower seeds and add shell on peanuts to what has come to be known as "The Bird Table"