Tips to scare away birds

[SouthPark]

Maybe similar principle as the fly swishers. If they can be hung above the orchids with flowers ------- Link

[Merita]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The problem with thin plastic netting is it tangles small lizards and snakes and they may die. Check it daily and be prepared to release them.

I had never had a problem with birds, if with squirrels. Some cardinals visit me and I had food and water for them but they never got into the orchids, I don't put anything in until these devil birds leave.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Merita

I don't put anything in until these devil birds leave.

As a kid growing up in Canada, everyone was on the lookout for the robins since they were the first to show up in spring. Seeing one was considered a happy moment and everyone would tell each other when they first spotted one! Funny to hear the flipside of how they can be jerks.

[camille1585]

I have noticed that in some cases birds will eat/destroy plants not because they find them especially tasty, but because they are missing something in nature. For instance, I used to put nets over my strawberry beds (like mostly people do here), and 2 years ago I tried something different. I figured that since the area consists of very sandy soils with little to no surface water in the vicinity, they were looking for water. So I put a couple pans of water out, in and around the strawberry patch. I saw a significant decrease in the number of pecked fruits, with the advantage that no wildlife got stuck in nets. Last spring was rather dry, and some birds (I suspect magpies and jackdaws) started destroying the developing pods on my pea plants. A nearby pan of water also solved that problem… Of course, you being in Florida I imagine that water is probably not an issue, but maybe they’re having trouble finding food?

One thing I haven’t solved is those jerk magpies eating all my freshly sowed peas. There’s always a couple of them cackling away in the trees, and they probably watch me sow them. Next time I go to the garden I see rows of perfectly spaced holes drilled into the ground, exactly where the seeds used to be… The only solution so far is to sow the seeds at home and plant out the seedlings!

[Mr.Fakename]

Magpies just want to see the world burn. They're smart, mean and territorial.

Once my mom's cat tried to get in their nest to put an end to this problem, and 7-8 of them kept her from climbing up or down the tree.
It was somehow fun hearing the concert of enraged meows.

Last year my moss colony got completely destroyed because they were looking for materials to nest. Since they're on the heavier and clever side, normal net wasn't an option, and I ended up using chicken wire.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I recommend chicken wire. It is easy to shape and it will keep birds out.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

I recommend chicken wire. It is easy to shape and it will keep birds out.

Good call DC. Also it would only be needed to protect the ones that are in bud ------ so not all of the orchids need to get protected. Any orchid getting buds can just go into the protective area.

[Dollythehun]

We love to see them too. But, they can pick a service Berry tree clean of fruit in hours. They love fruit and I imagine buds. But they're not alone. I've had house finches shear off my alyssum for a whole season. Be glad you don't have starlings too. Take your plants inside.

[Dulcinea]

There have been years I’ve seen robins back in Michigan in January and it's been that way for the last several years. It seemed they were coming back earlier and earlier. Not this year. The robins are a sign of spring here and we welcome them. They will probably be back within the next few weeks. It’s very cold now, almost 0° some nights, so that may keep them away a bit longer. The only things I see robins eat here are worms and insects. Never plants and never seeds. Maybe berries. They don’t go to the feeders.

I can commiserate with you because we have chipmunks and squirrels that bother the plants. It’s extremely disappointing! The members who suggested you enclose them are right.

[Leafmite]

I never really found a good solution to get rid of the robins. They were a pain as they would come in droves from all over the neighborhood and get all my cherries (five cherry trees) and always managed to get under the net I put around the blueberries. The only two years I did not have a problem with robins: 1) the year the robins returned too early and then we had a month of snow and very cold weather and 2) the year the pair of Baltimore Orioles set up a nest in one of the cherry trees and relentlessly chased away the robins.

Good luck. Sorry you are having this issue. I always had daydreams of becoming a falconer....