You’re a dedicated gardener, one who takes pride in their yard’s health and aesthetic appeal. One day, you wake up, eager to make the most of a beautiful day by toiling in the soil. You pull on your gloves, grab your trowel, head into your yard – and your beautiful garden has been absolutely consumed. A bird on your fencepost has a mischievous glint in his eye. His family has greatly enjoyed their meal, and they’re ready for more. Let’s Find Out Bird Control for Urban Gardens .
A dedicated gardener’s worst nightmare is waking up to find that the local fauna has made a meal of your hard-earned flora. Here are just a few DIY ways you can keep your yard yours.
What is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act?
Be aware that most bird species are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, save for a few species, such as pigeons, house sparrows, and starlings. We do not endorse harm to animals, but instead promote deterrents and exclusion devices to keep them from your property as desired.
A good old-fashioned scarecrow is a semi-effective bird deterrent that could also double as classic yard décor. The scarecrow’s success depends on several factors: what kind of birds are you trying to scare off? What shape does it take? How are you dressing it? Scarecrows are made more effective with brightly colored clothing and by changing their position frequently. If the scarecrow, fake owl, or other effigy remains immobile, birds will get used to it over time and ignore it.
Another harmless way of keeping birds from your garden is by spreading a chemical repellant like methyl anthranilate, a grape flavoring agent found in some sweets and carbonated drinks. It is harmless to birds, humans, and your plants; birds simply dislike the smell and taste, and will avoid a garden treated the repellant. When it’s time to harvest, simply wash your garden veggies and herbs as usual, and your bird-safe produce will taste just right.
Gardens aren’t the only bird attractors in your yard. Any body of water is a potential public pool for birds that love to make a splash. Thankfully, keeping birds out of your pool area is relatively easy. In fact, you may already own a bird deterrent that presents an easy solution: pool inflatables! A shiny plastic floatation device will reflect sunlight into birds’ eyes. Unable to see clearly, birds will avoid landing here. A floatie will also move around in the pool when the wind picks up, and like scarecrows, this deterrent is most effective when bird can’t get used to it always remaining in the same spot.
More than just a pool, your koi or goldfish pond doubles as a free buffet for fish-eating fiends. Pond netting installation is the most surefire way to keep birds and other pests out, but you may find this obstruction to be unsightly. You should ensure that your pond is two to three feet deep in order to deter all but the most determined of predators.
Should any of the above solutions not provide satisfactory bird deterrence or exclusion, don’t hesitate to seek out help from an expert. You can always contact a professional bird or pest control company and enlist their help in securing your home or other properties from bird-related damages. Experts with this niche training will have the necessary materials and experience to safely, carefully, and quickly protect your yard with long-lasting results. (And maybe consider building a greenhouse for your garden someday.)