Pests Guide
Blackbirds, starlings, and even robins have been known to pull up tasty corn seedlings, munch on ripening cherries, peaches, and blueberries, and even dig holes in lawns looking for insects.
The amount of damage will vary, depending on the weather and native food supply that year.
In dry years, birds will eat many different fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes and melons, for both food and moisture.
Chunks out of the ends of leaves, pecked holes in fruit
Missing seedlings
Some effective visual scare methods include hanging aluminum pie tins, replicas of predators, reflective tape, or large, scare-eye balloons (that mimic the scary eyes of predator birds).
Any scare device will work for a few days, but birds are smart and will soon get used to it so you will need to move it around regularly.
Scarecrows or fake predators like hawks can be good deterrants but will need moving around to mimic nature.
Netting and exclusion is the most effective for birds digging up your seedlings, eating freshly sown seed and generally getting in the way of your successful gardening.
Prop up the netting but keep it taught to ensure no animals get caught in it.
Worth investing in UV resistant netting since cheaper versions can deteriorate quickly in harsh sun and you will be picking it out of the garden for years to come.
Use bird feeders appropriate to the birds you're seeing in order to distract them with higher value crops.
Over time, large numbers of birds should attract natural predators, particuarly if there are trees present for them to nest in.
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