Not only gardeners eagerly watch the ripe cherry fruits to enjoy their unique taste, but also feathered gourmets. How can you protect a cherry tree from attacks by annoying birds and preserve the long-awaited harvest? This question interests every gardener and owner of a summer cottage.
- Why you should scare away birds
- The danger of birds invading the garden plot
- Basic recommendations for repelling
- How to protect your crops from birds
- Using rustling elements
- We use shiny reflectors
- Covering the tree with netting
- The advantage of using ultrasonic repellers
- We make and install homemade turntables
- Loud crackers and loudspeakers
- Spraying with store-bought protective agents
Why you should scare away birds
Protecting cherries from birds is an agrotechnical measure that a gardener cannot do without to get a good harvest. It would be a shame if, by following all planting and care procedures correctly, the tasty berries go to starlings, tits, sparrows, thrushes and other lovers of easy money. As a result, berries damaged by sharp beaks will become unsuitable for home use or planned sale.
The danger of birds invading the garden plot
The relevance of the problem of scaring away birds lies in their harmful activity, forcing gardeners to control their numbers. The more birds that fly into the garden, the greater the threat they will bring, since they have a negative effect on the plant:
- They damage bouquet flowers, from which fruits should appear next season.
- Young shoots are broken. Next year's harvest is at risk.
- They peck at berries, pecking out the pulp from all the fruits in a row. And uneaten parts can attract various insects and provoke the development of infections. As a result, the plant will get sick and die.
But there is no need to regard birds as a natural disaster. Solving this problem is not difficult, as it might immediately seem. A person can repel flying pests at minimal cost by resorting to folk remedies.
Basic recommendations for repelling
When uninvited guests are discovered on the site, the gardener tries to deal with this problem as quickly and cheaply as possible. Destroying the birds will be an inhumane option, so it is recommended to fight by choosing the following methods, which are distinguished into those that:
- cause discomfort (ultrasound, watering);
- reduce the quality of food (mordant);
- prevent birds from relocating (spikes, nets);
- imitate predators (stuffed animals, acoustic deterrents).
Important! To be effective, it is recommended to alternate methods of control, since birds become accustomed to repellents over time.
Before taking radical measures to combat birds, you should think about their benefits, since they can destroy a large number of harmful insects in the garden.
How to protect your crops from birds
There are different options to protect cherries from birds. It is necessary to choose the method that will be the most effective and will not harm the birds.
Using rustling elements
A simple and common method to save crops from birds is to use objects that tend to rustle a lot. Various available means are suitable for these purposes. For example, household bags, cassette films, New Year's rain. It is important that the elements hung on the trees make a good noise when there is a gust of wind. Then the birds will fly around the cherry trees.
We use shiny reflectors
An alternative to expensive devices is a time-tested method of scaring away birds - shiny reflectors. To do this, in places where birds gather, hang objects that can strongly reflect shine. They can be tinsel, discs, scraps of magnetic tape, large lumps of food foil.
When the sun's rays hit these elements, they refract and sparkle brightly, striking fear into the birds and protecting the fruits. This technique does not always work, but it does not require large expenses.
Covering the tree with netting
Young cherries with a compact crown can be protected by using low-density non-woven covering material, which will not interfere with plant respiration and will allow moisture, air, and light from the sun to pass through.The lightweight fabric will serve as reliable protection without damaging young shoots.
To scare away birds on large trees, it is rational to use special nets, which are an economical option, are also easy to install and will last for many years. The crown under this cover will not be damaged, and even if the birds sit on the branch, they will still not be able to reach the sweet berries. In addition, the mesh, which has a green tint, is invisible, so it will not spoil the appearance of the garden at all.
These easy-to-use and inexpensive devices will help preserve a tasty harvest of sweet berries until they ripen.
The advantage of using ultrasonic repellers
A popular achievement of modern production - an ultrasonic repeller - will provide guaranteed protection against any birds. This electronic device can scare away birds while remaining inaudible to people. The principle of operation is to reproduce high-frequency radiation, which is not distinguishable by people and pets, but is well detected by birds.
Ultrasound will not harm birds, it will only cause discomfort, which will force them to find other places to feed. The range of such devices directly depends on the selected model. The advantages of this method are the absence of disturbance for humans, efficiency, ease of maintenance, and low price.
We make and install homemade turntables
One of the humane methods of getting rid of uninvited guests is the manufacture of such a device as a hand-made pinwheel. Plastic bottles are suitable for this as a material for the production of turntables and mills that will work under the influence of the wind and scare away birds.You can decorate your homemade device with foil and other shiny materials. Result: glitters, sparkles, makes noise - scares. The only negative is that it only works if wind resources are available.
Loud crackers and loudspeakers
You can protect the cherry tree from birds by using firecrackers and loud noisers. The birds are frightened by sharp claps, and, frightened, they immediately fly away. You also need to scare away birds using structures that can imitate the sounds of predatory animals and are equipped with a flash and a flashlight. A tree equipped with these simple devices will undoubtedly remain intact and inaccessible to feathered raiders.
Spraying with store-bought protective agents
Treated areas with store-bought protective preparations force the cherry orchard to avoid birds in the future, causing a persistent reflex. To do this, buy a special gel or spray solution in the store. It is important that the composition of the product is of natural origin and is not hazardous to the crop.
Against migratory birds, you can use primary repellents that can irritate the nervous system and cause an avoidance reaction. For sedentary bird species - secondary repellents that provoke discomfort after eating. You can also spray the tops of the cherries with an infusion made from hot pepper or garlic.
This method has one drawback. After each rain you need to spray again. Gardeners have the opportunity to independently choose a reliable and effective option for scaring away birds. Not every summer resident can afford to buy expensive equipment. In this case, you need to opt for mesh coverings or time-tested folk methods.