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There are several ways to save strawberries from birds in the country. To scare away birds from the beds, both purchased and home-made designs are used.
What birds eat strawberries in the garden
Among the photos of birds that eat strawberries in the country, you can see both “harmful” and “useful” species. Neither sparrows, nor crows, nor pigeons refuse to eat ripening berries. The beds are attacked by rooks and magpies, tits and starlings.
It is possible to lose a crop due to birds not only after its final ripening, but also as the berries ripen. Birds peck at strawberries as soon as they turn slightly red. If you leave the site shortly before harvesting, upon returning you may find that the beds have already been devastated by birds.
Birds in the garden are a danger to both strawberries and other fruit crops.
How to protect strawberries from birds
There are several ways to protect strawberries from birds in the country. On sale are available special designs designed to scare away birds. You can also build protection with your own hands from improvised materials.
Covering net
One of the most convenient ways to protect strawberries in the garden from birds is to use a mesh made of metal or polypropylene. Small cells pass sunlight, air and moisture well, do not interfere with watering and fertilizing. At the same time, for birds, the net remains insurmountable – birds cannot penetrate through it and damage the crop.
The method is convenient in that it is very simple to install a shelter – it does not take much time and effort. For example, you can drive wooden pegs around the perimeter of the beds and stretch a grid between them at a height of about 30 cm. Another option suggests installing a metal frame for covering material, but more effort will be needed here.
Plastic nets are less reliable than metal ones, but they do not rust under the influence of precipitation.
shiny objects
If the birds are pecking at strawberries, you can scare them away from the beds with the help of shiny objects. Shimmering in the sun, they will create the illusion of movement, and the birds will not dare to approach the landings.
You can build a frightening structure from old CDs, New Year’s rain, foil or magnetic tapes pulled from unnecessary cassettes. The latter options are additionally convenient in that they rustle or rustle when the wind blows. From shiny objects, you need to create a kind of garland or “web” and hang it over the beds with strawberries at a low height.
The disadvantage of shiny designs is that they blind the eyes in sunny weather and can spoil the view of the site.
garden scarecrow
You can scare away birds from strawberries in the country with the help of the oldest and quite effective method – a scarecrow. It is not difficult to make it with your own hands, for this you need:
- Knock down a long and shorter stick crosswise between each other to get the “body” and “hands” of the scarecrow.
- Stuff a bag with newspapers, straw, cotton wool or rags and put it on top of a vertical pole.
- Throw unnecessary old clothes on the “shoulders” of the structure.
The disadvantage of the scarecrow is that it gives a good effect against birds only for the first time after appearing in the garden. Then the birds get used to the fixed structure and stop avoiding it. In order for the scarecrow to constantly cope with its main task, it can be improved – decorated with shiny garlands, rustling magnetic tapes and rattles.
To make the scarecrow look more formidable for the birds, you need to pick up clothes for it that are loose – it will begin to sway in the wind
Rattles and bells
A variety of rattling and ringing objects help save the strawberry crop from birds. To protect landings, you can:
- tie the pieces of metal pipes together, fixing them so that they make a knock in the wind;
- hang a garland of cans or beer cans;
- purchase bells or the so-called “wind chimes” in a relaxation store – soothing sounds will be unpleasant for birds.
Thundering structures have the same disadvantage as the scarecrow. Over time, the birds get used to the noise and stop bypassing the strawberry beds. In order for the protective device to continue to perform its functions, it will have to be constantly rearranged from place to place or modified, changing the tone and volume of the sound.
Rattles and bells are inconvenient because they work well only in windy weather.
Kites
You can scare birds away from strawberries with a kite – in fact, it is a modification of an ordinary scarecrow. The device can be bought at the store, or you can cut it yourself from a light and volatile material. It is recommended to make a snake in the form of a large bird of prey, in which case it will better cope with its tasks.
Some time after the installation of the structure, the birds can understand that it does not cause real harm, and will cease to be afraid of it. Therefore, it is recommended to use the snake together with noise repellers or special devices that imitate the cry of a bird of prey. In this case, the beneficial effect of the structure will last longer.
You can make a kite from polyethylene, paper or nylon
Electronic devices
If the birds eat strawberries, then you can drive them away from the beds with the help of special electronic devices. Two options are especially popular:
- Devices with a recording of the call of a hawk, peregrine falcon, owl and other birds of prey. Devices well scare away not only unwanted birds, but also rodents from the site. The disadvantage of devices is that loud sounds are usually not very pleasant for people either.
- Ultrasonic repellers. Devices can be quite expensive, but they are good at repelling birds and at the same time do not irritate human hearing at all.
Most often, electronic devices give a good effect and allow you to protect strawberries from birds reliably and for a long time. But at the same time, it must be borne in mind that the complete disappearance of birds from the site can lead to problems with pests – there will be no one to peck caterpillars and beetles.
Especially effective are sound repellers, additionally equipped with bright lamps.
gas guns
If a bird eats strawberries in the garden, a gas gun or thunder gun can give a good effect. The principle of operation of a propane repeller is that an electric spark periodically ignites the gas-air mixture in the barrel, and the device makes a loud sound with a power of 119-130 dB.
Guns are mechanical and electronic. The former are cheaper, but they can only be operated manually, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of devices. Electronic models allow you to adjust the frequency and response time, set single or multiple shots. For the time from dusk to dawn, the gun can be switched to non-working mode so that with its roar it does not wake up the owners of the site or neighbors.
It does not make sense to buy a gas repeller for a small dacha – the acquisition will cost too much. Gromguns are usually used on extensive strawberry plantations. When installed on the ground, the powerful device can provide protection from birds to an area of 1,5 hectares, and if you lift the device on a stand, the coverage will increase to 7 hectares.
In an electronic gas gun, it is necessary to change the battery regularly and protect the control unit from moisture.
Planting berry trees
You can save strawberries from birds in the garden if you plant fruit trees that are more attractive to birds. These crops include sea buckthorn, cherry, mountain ash.
The main disadvantage of this method is that it is impossible to completely protect strawberries from birds with it. Birds may well peck berries from both trees and beds at the same time, so the damage can only be reduced.
When planting sea buckthorn or cherries specifically for birds, you will not have to harvest large crops from these trees.
Which method is the most reliable
Determining the most reliable way to protect strawberries is quite difficult. Each of the methods has both advantages and disadvantages. In particular:
- shiny garlands and rattles give a quick effect, but it does not last long – until the birds get used to the repellers;
- sound devices help drive birds away in windy weather, but in calm conditions there is no benefit from them;
- berry trees attract birds, but do not prevent them from continuing to feast on, including strawberries.
Of the simple devices, the usual grid becomes the most effective. Theoretically, birds can try to break through it, break the shelter or get stuck in it, but in practice this does not happen so often.
Of the more expensive devices, electronic repellers bring real benefits. You will have to spend a lot on their purchase, but most likely, it will be possible to completely eliminate the birds from the garden.
Conclusion
You can save strawberries from birds in the country with the help of home-made designs or purchased electronic devices. No method provides absolutely reliable protection, but nets, sound repellers and other devices at least reduce damage to bird beds. It should be borne in mind that the effect of many devices is only temporary.
