Birds are decimating my seedlings!

[caseri9]

Hi,

I even strung, 'almost', clear invisible fishing line along each row and then hung CD discs, also using fishing line. On a breezy, sunny day the discs reflect the sun, shooting sunspots all over the garden scaring away birds. But in the dawn and dusk of the day where there is no sun, and no breeze, the birds think it's harvest time , just decimating eveything.

I'm planting in Southern Arizona where it is still in the mid 80's and perfect for beginingg my winter veggie garden of broccoli, peas, spinach, beets garlic, potatoes, lettuce, cailflower, etc.

What to do so that I don't have to share 100 percent of my crop with those selfish birds?

ThanXXX, Mike

[Travis]

Row covers.

[Valkyrie]

I have no idea what kind of trees and shrubs you have around since I am way up in the NW corner of the US map, almost Travis' neighbor, just a few miles south, however, when I planted my veggies I would also do some tree and shrub pruning and lay these leafy branches over the freshly planted rows. I didn't remove them until the seedlings were past the point of "tender treat" for the birds and then just put the branches, which had dried up pretty well, through my little shredder and dump them in the compost. Worked very well, didn't cost a thing and added to the health of the garden soil.

Val

[simy1]

both row covers and a pan of water nearby. After a while they learn to get their water from the pan and not from the seedlings. In fact, once the seedlings are large you want the birds around, and the pan of water is what keeps them coming back. I would never get a head of cabbage were it not for the robins getting all the caterpillars. In my case they are trained and come only for water and bugs. It should not be too much trouble to put plastic hoops over the beds as a permanent structure so you can cover for one month as needed.

[Spud Demon]

[e-mail] writes in article dated 28 Oct 2005

09:34:23 -0700:

According to the subject line, they are only taking 10%. Although if they decimated it twice daily you'd be down to almost nothing after a month.

I'm truly picky. I hate it when words lose their meaning!)

-- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.

[caseri9]

dated 28 Oct 2005

09:34:23 -0700:

I as well, Spud, but there are things known as "expressions" where some such words are not necessarilytmeant to be taken literally.. And I do hate AMERICAN people who never learned English!

[Treedweller]

dated 28 Oct 2005

09:34:23 -0700:

I'm not usually one to nitpick, but since you pushed it . . . this is not an expression. It is a commonly misused word. Some Americans can tell the difference, even if you can't.

k

[sockiescat]

the one thing that u might also try is taking pie plates and puttin

them on the fishing line instead of the cd discs. put them a bit close together so that they can bang into one another the birds dont like th sound they make. good luck with your garden. : sockiescat.

Treedweller Spud Demon wrote: [e-mail] writes in articl [e-mail] dated 28 Oct 200

09:34:23 -0700: What to do so that I don't have to share 100 percent of my crop with those selfish birds?

According to the subject line, they are only taking 10%. Although i they decimated it twice daily you'd be down to almost nothing after month.

I'm truly picky. I hate it when words lose their meaning!)

-- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.

I as well, Spud, but there are things known as "expressions" wher some such words are not necessarilytmeant to be taken literally.. And do hate AMERICAN people who never learned English!

I'm not usually one to nitpick, but since you pushed it . . . this is not an expression. It is a commonly misused word. Some Americans can tell the difference, even if you can't.

-- sockiescat