Bird pecking solution??? - Page 2

Grub · March 11, 2006

I completely disagree. I think the water/bird belief is an old wives' tale. I have offered water, buckets of water. I have spent two years with birds flying down and drinking water from these buckets and the chicken water, before I put netting over the run.

They drank and ate my maters. The birds here, at least, aren't eating tomatoes for water. They like them for their superior taste. Colour attracts them too. That's why so many birds are so colourful.

Tucking tomatoes inside peaked caps has proven the best solutiion for me. Out of sight is out of birdy's mind. But you could use any old piece of cloth.

jerseyjohn61 · March 12, 2006

Grub,
you bring up some excellent points on avian
attraction to color. However, in the North-
eastern U.S., the vast majority of native and
introduced bird species tend to be very drab
in coloration. Two exceptions are the Cardinal
and BlueJay, but they are cool seasoners only.

After the colorful spring budding period in April,
the entire foliage landscape turns green. We
don't share the same natural floral beauty that
I believe you enjoy in the more tropical environs.

Last June, July and early August, were among
the 3 driest summer months I've ever known
in my 4 plus decades. It was also, by far, the
the worst year for bird/tomato damage.

I think a research study is needed....JJ61

Grub · March 12, 2006

JJ,

I understand what you're saying.

But we are the driest continent on earth — ignoring for a minute Bully's backyard when the boys rock around for a barbecue — and we just had a record two years of drought with severe water restrictions still in place, brown grass, dead plants, etc.

I think irrespective of their plummage, birds have acute eyesight and can spot a grub at 100 paces. That is why I have to fight them off. I am a bird magnet :wink:. And they can spot a mater at a mile. The ones that eat maters here are never colouful, but mostly the dreaded Indian Mynahs and blackbirds.

It must be different Up Over. These ar just m observations in my little backyard.

jerseyjohn61 · March 12, 2006

Grub,
My observations are also sent along with good
will mate. Cheers.

In late July and August, the birds do feast upon
the Mulberry fruits which are a rich Raspberry
red/purple(don't know if that tree is native).
I'm not certain of this, but our avg. yearly
rainfall maybe in the 50 in. range. Will look up
to make sure. (Okay, made sure: about 45.
darn that's a lot of water.)

Australia, being as dry as you state, must
have flora and fauna that are highly adapted
to the low rainfall in order to produce the
spectacular vegetation I've seen in your
photo's....JJ61

SelfSufficient1 · March 12, 2006

I have never had a problem with birds eating my tomatoes. The mostly like my cherries, plums and figs

. However I did put a birdbath by the strawberries and they stopped eating those

.

honu · March 12, 2006

I'm with Grub. It's not the plummage or the water here. We get a lot of rainfall, and our birds go for the tomatoes whether or not there's water around. Not 1 fruit will be safe unless I protect it with netting or something else to keep them out of sight or reach. And netting is not fool proof too, since several times some found a way to get in, then couldn't get out. And I am not talking about colorful native birds (since they've mostly been wiped out here)... these are the dull colored common zebra doves, red-vented bulbul, and other introduced birds.
Also, I tried placing those plastic toy snakes all over, but our birds don't know they are supposed to be scared of them (we aren't supposed to have any snakes here).

March 11, 2006	#16
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Disagree I completely disagree. I think the water/bird belief is an old wives' tale. I have offered water, buckets of water. I have spent two years with birds flying down and drinking water from these buckets and the chicken water, before I put netting over the run. They drank and ate my maters. The birds here, at least, aren't eating tomatoes for water. They like them for their superior taste. Colour attracts them too. That's why so many birds are so colourful. Tucking tomatoes inside peaked caps has proven the best solutiion for me. Out of sight is out of birdy's mind. But you could use any old piece of cloth.

March 12, 2006	#18
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Still nah. JJ, I understand what you're saying. But we are the driest continent on earth — ignoring for a minute Bully's backyard when the boys rock around for a barbecue — and we just had a record two years of drought with severe water restrictions still in place, brown grass, dead plants, etc. I think irrespective of their plummage, birds have acute eyesight and can spot a grub at 100 paces. That is why I have to fight them off. I am a bird magnet :wink:. And they can spot a mater at a mile. The ones that eat maters here are never colouful, but mostly the dreaded Indian Mynahs and blackbirds. It must be different Up Over. These ar just m observations in my little backyard.

March 12, 2006	#20
SelfSufficient1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 188	I have never had a problem with birds eating my tomatoes. The mostly like my cherries, plums and figs . However I did put a birdbath by the strawberries and they stopped eating those . __________________ I could spend all day here!

March 12, 2006	#17
jerseyjohn61 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Z/6 Posts: 554	Grub, you bring up some excellent points on avian attraction to color. However, in the North- eastern U.S., the vast majority of native and introduced bird species tend to be very drab in coloration. Two exceptions are the Cardinal and BlueJay, but they are cool seasoners only. After the colorful spring budding period in April, the entire foliage landscape turns green. We don't share the same natural floral beauty that I believe you enjoy in the more tropical environs. Last June, July and early August, were among the 3 driest summer months I've ever known in my 4 plus decades. It was also, by far, the the worst year for bird/tomato damage. I think a research study is needed....JJ61

March 12, 2006	#21
honu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 270	I'm with Grub. It's not the plummage or the water here. We get a lot of rainfall, and our birds go for the tomatoes whether or not there's water around. Not 1 fruit will be safe unless I protect it with netting or something else to keep them out of sight or reach. And netting is not fool proof too, since several times some found a way to get in, then couldn't get out. And I am not talking about colorful native birds (since they've mostly been wiped out here)... these are the dull colored common zebra doves, red-vented bulbul, and other introduced birds. Also, I tried placing those plastic toy snakes all over, but our birds don't know they are supposed to be scared of them (we aren't supposed to have any snakes here).