How to Methods of Bird Control for the Home Garden

For the home gardener it seems that every season just as those long awaited fruits and vegetables start to ripen, along come the birds to strip the berry bushes, fruit trees, and vegetable plants clean. Here are some simple methods of proven bird control to protect home grown crops from birds, that are humane and generally cheap or even free.

1. Scare the birds away from the area with moving and reflective surfaces. Hang shiny objects such as old cd's and aluminum pie plates, that will flutter in the breeze, around the garden and from the branches of the fruit trees. There are special mylar balloons with bullseye like patterns on them for bird control. The pattern is suppose to look like a large scary eye that will flash in the sunlight. Don't put these up until it is nearing time for the fruits to start ripening so the birds will not get use to them. There are shiny reflective mylar tapes that can be purchased for bird control also.

2. Scare the birds by placing life like decoys near the home garden. Rubber snakes, scarecrows, and plastic owls, will all help to deter bird pests from fruits and vegetables when they are ripening. These fake dangers must be moved around every couple of days or the birds will simply get use to them and learn they are no threat.

3. Frighten the birds with noise making devices. Loud cannon devices that sound like gun shot are not an option in areas near other houses. Radios can be set up with a timer to come on sporatically and chase birds away. Tapes can be purchased of bird distress calls, that will make all the birds leave an area. There are bird control products that produce high pitch sounds only the birds can hear, that will act to repel birds. It is best to use sonic sound producing products outside to repel birds as the ultrasonic bird deterrents only work well in enclosed areas. Wind blown whirly fans that make clacking noises, wind chimes hung from the tree branches, and balloons will also help to deter birds. Use whirly gigs and balloons that are shiny for the best effect.

4. Put up a bird barrier to keep the birds away while the fruit is ripening. Bird netting is a very good way to save a crop, if used properly. Don't just throw the netting over the fruiting bush or plant. Build a support over the plant to hold the netting a few feet from the plant's surface. This will keep the birds from being able to reach through the netting to get to the fruits. It will also be easier to remove the netting when fruiting is over, because the plant stems won't have grown through it. PVC pipe, the thin walled type, is good to build arching supports. Look at my other article about building a bird barrier from plastic pipe, How to build bird barriers for the home garden. With young sprouting plants, such as sweet corn seeds, row covers can protect the seedings from birds. Black birds and crows are bad about pulling up sprouting corn and bean seeds. When using bird netting for bird control be sure to check it everyday in case small birds get caught in it and need to be freed. When tomatoes reach their full size but are still green, they can be covered with paper bags to protect them. Want to learn more about home gardening? Visit my website, growitveg.com, to find all kinds of information on growing vegetables, such as garden planning, pest control, compost making, and vegetable choices. Check out this list of gardening tips given on webanswers.com

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