Birds are a typical visitor to nearly all landscapes. The majority of birds do not pose any great threat to yards or gardens; however, some may cause damage to plants, crops, and buildings. If birds are continuously a nuisance, there are some precautionary measures with which may be implemented to deter birds away from your yard.
Bird netting. One of the most common ways to protect against intruding birds is the use of bird netting. These are available in garden centers and provide safety to trees, shrubs, and beds. Simply cover the targeted areas with the netting. Birds will be unable to penetrate this covering and will lose interest in returning to the site.
Repellants. There are both visual and noise-making repellants that are available for discouraging these pesky intruders. Visual repellants include such things as bright, reflective lighting or predator replicas of snakes, hawks, or owls. Noisemakers can be as simple as employing wind chimes or bells around your home. Another effective idea is to attach old tin or aluminum cans to string and filling them with stones, marbles, etc. Just hang the string of cans along the edge of a lawn or garden area. As the cans move by wind or perching birds, the stones will create enough noise to frighten away the trespassers. These may also be handy in running off any other pests as well.
Scarecrows. Scarecrows can frighten birds and hinder their interest in occupying the area. Employing moving objects may also help. Try hanging strips of rags or foil attached to string, the birds do not like them.
Nests. If you happen to find any nests in your yard which may be occupied, relocate them to another area outside of the yard. The birds will still be able to use the nest as long as it is not harmed in the process.
Clean landscape. Birds enjoy the safety of brush piles and overgrown weeds and will often choose these sites to nest in. To help alleviate this problem, remove the piles of brush or weeds along with any debris with which a bird might find to be an attractive haven.
Wire mesh. If you are experiencing problems with birds roosting or nesting around chimneys, eaves, or open spaces of your home, covering the areas with chicken wire will prevent them from penetrating these spots.
Organic pesticides. Although this is not always the best choice, when all else fails, there are some organic pesticides available which can be applied to trees, gardens, or lawns. However, be sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure the overall safety of the birds.
Lime. Sprinkling the garden or lawn areas with small amounts of lime will sometimes help to keep invading birds from visiting these areas.
Plants. Avoid planting any bird-loving plants such as cherry or mulberry. If possible, replace these with other plants. For example, birds love to devour sweet cherries; however, they do not care for sour cherries, which could be used as an alternative. You may also consider planting enticing plants in different sites away from the yard. Water attracts birds as well. Keeping a water source in another location may sway them from coming into your yard.
Identification. The best way to full proof your yard against birds is to know exactly which ones are causing the problems. Most birds do not cause harm to landscapes, in fact, they are usually welcome additions and beneficial; however, certain types such as blackbirds, sparrows, larks, and finches commonly feed on vegetable and fruit crops.
