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Protect crops from pest birds

How To Protect Crops From Pest Birds

Protecting crops from birds can be a difficult task for any farmer, gardener, or agriculturalist. Birds are naturally drawn to ripe fruits and vegetables, such as peas, runner beans, corn, strawberries and raspberries, as they provide an easy source of nutrition. As such, it is important to take steps to protect your crops from these feathered pests to ensure that you get the most out of your harvest. Fortunately, there are a variety of methods available for protecting your crops from birds which range from physical barriers like netting and bird spikes to chemical repellents and noise makers. With some careful planning and implementation, you can effectively protect your crops without having to resort to more extreme measures such as trapping or eliminating entire populations of birds.

Identify the birds that are causing damage to your crops

Identifying the birds responsible for damaging your crops is an essential part of formulating a successful defence plan. To determine which birds are causing the damage, start by taking note of the types of damage seen in your crops – such as pecking, plucking, tearing, or scratching – and when it occurs. You may also see claws or bird footprints in the soil surrounding your plants. Watching what birds visit during this time can help you identify who is causing damage. Binoculars will help you zoom in to confirm species. Nests are also key indicators that particular species are living nearby and could be damaging your crops.

Determine the best way to protect your crops

Once you have identified which birds are affecting your harvest, take action to scare them off or keep them away with physical barriers like netting or scarecrows, to prevent them from coming back!
Netting is the most effective option as it will completely cover the crops and keep birds away. Scarecrows can create a physical deterrent and can be intimidating enough to stop birds from getting close. Bird spikes will stop them from landing on top of crops, however, these are not very aesthetically pleasing. Before deciding on a method, assess which technique fits into your overall garden design, take into account how much time you want to spend maintaining it, and consider the potential damage to other wildlife. Each situation is unique and it’s important to determine what works best for you.

Install necessary protection devices

Once you have determined the best method of proofing now is the time to install the protection. You could try and do this yourself or you could speak to a professional bird control company that has the expertise on how to correctly install the proofing methods to ensure maximum efficiency. Either way, this will get you on your way to protecting your crops from pest birds.

Consider using noise makers for additional protection

Noisemakers, such as sonic scarers or other similar devices are designed to scare birds away. These are especially helpful when birds have become too used to visual deterrents and become immune to them. The sound of sonic scarers is often startling enough to keep them away even if they’re familiar with the area. In addition, as many of these devices also require power sources, it may make it easier for growers to apply them on a large scale due to their capability of covering multiple areas at once. When in doubt, adding noise makers into your protection strategy could help substantially in protecting your crops against ravenous birds.

Monitor the effectiveness of the protection methods you have implemented

Monitoring the effectiveness of bird-proofing methods is essential to ensure that your efforts are having the desired effect. You can do this simply, by taking note of the number and frequency of birds crossing into prohibited areas before and following implementation, as well as observing any changes in behaviour from the birds themselves. This can be done through regular visual checks, or by using surveillance methods such as cameras or trapping solutions for a more detailed assessment. With a methodical approach to monitoring, you can rest assured that your efforts have been sufficient and will effectively prevent future incidents.

Re-evaluate and adjust your crop protection plan regularly

Regular crop protection requires double the effort! Just as you should stay on top of new pests and disease threats, monitoring the effectiveness of your plan to protect your crops from birds is essential. Without consistent re-evaluation, you could end up with a less effective solution than needed. It’s recommended that growers analyse bird behaviour patterns regularly to identify which techniques are working and which need adjusting. Furthermore, remember that it is possible for birds to quickly adapt to certain safeguards; so be sure to change tactics every once in a while. A well-planned and maintained crop protection program from birds can help mitigate associated losses and keep your crop-growing venture successful!
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