Bird Problem

[cloz]

Originally Posted by mwancho

If it wasn't the state bird and pretty illegal to do so, I might consider that idea. I'll try other means -- rubber snakes, CD's tied to fishing string, wax paper/pantyhose, picking early, etc. They may be winning this battle, but they will not win the war!

I tried hanging a bunch of CD's and I have tried a rubber snake. Didn't do a thing in my garden. CD's look nice at night if you turn on some spotlights. All kinds of colorful reflections.
If you find a solution that works, I am sure everyone here would like to know.
Good Luck!

[TOSWALD]

I HAVE TRIED CD'S, RUBBER SNAKES, NETTING. ALL FAILED. BUT I DID FIND ONE THING THAT WORKED WELL FOR ME - WHEN I GET A TOMATO THAT STARTS TO TURN RED I COVER IT WITH WAX PAPER (STILL ON THE VINE). IT TRICKS THE BIRDS INTO THINKING IT'S NOT A RIPE TOMATO. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN BIRDS PECKING ON A GREEN TOMATO? NOPE. THIS CAN BE TIME CONSUMING IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TOMATOES BUT AFTER ALL THE TIME I HAVE PUT INTO MY GARDEN GETTING READY FOR MY RIPE TOMATOES IT'S JUST ANOTHER THING. GOOD LUCK

[cloz]

Squirrels don't care what color the tomatoes are. They will pick them and take a couple of bites and leave them. I would not have the patience to put wax paper around the tomatoes. Between squirrels, chipmunks and birds, you need to reduce the population or you will not get tomatoes.

[TOSWALD]

I HAVE 2/3 ACRES WOODED AREA BEHIND MY GARDEN AND 2 HUGE WALNUT TREES. SQUIRREL'S EVERYWHERE BUT NEVER IN MY GARDEN. I KNOW THEY GNAW ON THE WALNUTS - MAYBE THEY PREFER THEM OVER TOMATOES. AS FAR AS THINNING OUT THE POPULATION - IS IT REALLY WORTH KILLING (HOW MANY?) FOR TOMATOES???
DON'T HAVE PATIENCE TO WRAP YOUR TOMATOES? C'est la vie

[cloz]

Originally Posted by TOSWALD

I HAVE 2/3 ACRES WOODED AREA BEHIND MY GARDEN AND 2 HUGE WALNUT TREES. SQUIRREL'S EVERYWHERE BUT NEVER IN MY GARDEN. I KNOW THEY GNAW ON THE WALNUTS - MAYBE THEY PREFER THEM OVER TOMATOES. AS FAR AS THINNING OUT THE POPULATION - IS IT REALLY WORTH KILLING (HOW MANY?) FOR TOMATOES???
DON'T HAVE PATIENCE TO WRAP YOUR TOMATOES? C'est la vie

I got a total of 5 tomatoes from 18 plants one year. The squirrels destroyed the rest. After removing a bunch of squirrels the next year I got over 200 tomatoes from the same number of plants. I have oaks and hickory trees on and around my property and it does not help. I have over 80 tomato plants this year and wrapping every tomato is not an option. I don't grow a garden to feed animals. My cat is a big help taking chipmunks but she doesn't bother the birds. I have lived here for 40 years and there was no problem with animals for the first 20 years. With the lack of hunting these days and the tremendous growth of trees in the area, the bird and animal populations have exploded. I like animals a d birds as much as anyone, but not when they are destroying my hard work. If you want to feed your crop to the animals, that's your choice. I choose otherwise.