Birds can be very helpful in keeping bugs out of your garden, but sometimes they can turn into pests themselves if they start stealing seedlings or eating berries off your plants. So, what are you supposed to do to shoo away the birds without causing them any harm? Here are a couple of safe and effective bird control solutions you can employ to keep the birds on your property at arm’s length:
Netting
One of the most effective ways to keep birds away from your fruits and vegetables is to install some bird netting. Plastic netting provides a low-profile physical barrier between the birds and your plants, and it does not harm them in any way. Depending on what kind of birds you are trying to keep out, you can choose from ¼ inch, ½ inch, and ¾ inch netting that you can easily suspend over your plants. The netting is typically good for up to a year, and you do not have to worry about this bird control method ruining the aesthetic of your garden because it is virtually invisible. Additionally, if you only need a temporary solution while your plants are producing fruit, you can also drape a lightweight fabric, like tulle, over the plants and secure it with clothespins.
Scare Tactics
Scarecrows have become such a common fixture in pop culture that we oftentimes forget that their original purpose was to scare away birds! If you don’t like the idea of having a scarecrow in your garden, never fear. There are plenty of other bird control methods you can utilize to give the birds a push in the opposite direction. One easy way to deter the birds from grabbing a snack in your garden is to trim your fruit trees or berry bushes with reflective tape or small mirrors because the reflection of the sunlight will make the birds wary of entering your garden. Additionally, you can also hang a small wind chime on one of your trees, and even though the sound is pleasant to you, the birds will be frightened by it.
And if you do decide that you want to use a classic bird control scare tactic, you can indeed use a scarecrow! If you do set up one of these by the garden, be sure to change its position every few days and put a hat on it that you can easily adjust so that it looks different to the birds. If you leave the scarecrow in the same position with the same clothes and accessories for too long, the birds will soon realize that it is not a real person, and they will lose their fear of it.