For the frugal gardener or the average homeowner, birds are a beautiful and desirable aspect of our outdoor world. We take great delight in seeing birds flocking around a feeder lovingly filled with all manner of food offerings and birdbaths  dutifully kept clean and filled with water for their benefit. We marvel at their flight and take great joy in hearing their song. We build and install every manner of housing to entice them to build nests, raise young and stay around awhile. Every frugal gardener knows of and appreciates the help that birds provide in helping to control insects and are thankful for the help they provide. But what is a gardener or homeowner to do when those same feathered friends start behaving in a manner that is destructive or in some way is a nuisance? What does the frugal gardener do when they start destroying their garden or the homeowner to do when they decide to take up residence in areas frequented by the human inhabitants? This is when the frugal gardener or homeowner can often use a few home and garden tips to help control these feathered critters. Here in the Garden of Weedin, the Hillbilly Gardener loves his birds as much as anyone. But, there are times when those same birds exhibit habits that are less than desirable. In fact, there are times that their natural tendencies are downright destructive. What then? There are those who take a stance of elimination and granted, for certain non-native species of birds, this may be an option that perhaps must be considered. But, here in the Garden of Weedin, the Hillbilly Gardener prefers to adopt a policy of bird repelling and behavior modification as a form of bird pest control as much as possible. Repelling birds as a means of bird pest control is not a new concept. Bird pest control methods of many types have been employed for centuries by gardeners and farmers alike in order to protect valuable food crops. These were usually in the form of some form of bird scarecrow  as a means of repelling birds and keeping them at bay. Scarecrow ideas of many types have been around for centuries. In the earliest days of bird pest control, scarecrow ideas usually centered around some form of figure that resembled a human figure. This probably stemmed from an observance than when people were present in the area, most birds would not land or linger in the area. This observance gave birth to the bird scarecrow as a means of bird pest control and later evolved to many scarecrow ideas being tried. Some of these scarecrow ideas would have worked, while others did little in the way of repelling birds from damaging or destroying crops. Some of these scarecrow ideas started off working and then quit working after a period of time. Ok, but just what is a true bird scarecrow anyway? Isn't it that familiar, friendly-faced, plaid-shirted, straw hat wearing, straw-filled character hanging out in the field so familiar and synonymous with Halloween and fall decorating? Well, yes and no. The oldest know written reference to a "scarecrow" dates back to 712 AD in the oldest surviving book in Japan – the "Kojiki" known as "Kuebiko", a deity who cannot speak but knows everything about the world. However, it is unclear if the purpose of Kuebiko was for bird repelling or not at the time. It may be that his ability at repelling birds was a pleasant side effect. The popularizing of the humble bird scarecrow as we know it today came about soon after the turn of the twentieth century through several popular books and movies, which were becoming a major source of entertainment. And who can forget the laughable and heart-warming character of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" ? Who didn't fall in love with the bird scarecrow after watching that movie? Over the centuries, scarecrow ideas and the basic bird scarecrow has been employed by nearly every culture where agriculture was predominant and the humble bird scarecrow has been known by many names. But the purpose of the bird scarecrow has always been the same, bird repelling and bird pest control to protect crops. Some of the names by which the bird scarecrow has been known through the years are: | Mawkin Bird-scarer Moggy Shay Guy Bogeyman Shuft Rook-scarer Kelson
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Over the years, the humble bird scarecrow has evolved and become much more "high-tech". Today, while the familiar bird scarecrow made from discarded clothing still works and can still be found occasionally fulfilling its original purpose of bird repelling, the methodology employed in bird repelling is much more scientifically based. That is to say that today, we realize and understand that birds are easily startled and frightened by anything that moves, flashes, makes loud sounds or in any way is perceived by the birds as a threat to them. To this end, they will avoid anything that they perceive as a threat. These are the principles that are employed in today's modern bird scarecrow as a means of repelling birds. Bird scarecrows today are as effective and popular as ever as a means of pest bird control by modern agriculture, as well as the frugal gardener, seeking a particle and effective means of protecting their crops in a "non-lethal" manner. Another effective means of bird repelling and bird pest control is simply to make an area uncomfortable or undesirable to light or take up residence. While there are times when no real harm is done by a bird taking up residence in a particular location or choosing one location over another as a preferred location to roost at night, often this choice is undesirable to the homeowner. Beyond undesirable, there are times when these habits can be quite detrimental to buildings, surroundings and even to human health. Millions of dollars are spent in the United States each year repairing damage to paint and to structures from avian excrement alone. There are many documented cases where structural failures have occurred from the build-up of avian excrement alone. For those with, or prone to respiratory problems, the prolonged congregation of large numbers of birds can trigger an adverse respiratory reaction when humans are exposed to this. This is due to birds carrying dust and mites in their feathers that can trigger adverse responses in humans when these irritants are present in sufficient quantities. Additionally, bird excrement provides an excellent breeding ground for a host of bacteria that can be hazardous to humans. This can be a common occurrence when birds such as the European Starling and common Pigeon, both imported nuisance birds, chooses a particular place to roost at night. Starlings and Pigeons are communal birds that will choose a particular place to roost at night and return there each night. In fact, communal roosting is a common trait among many birds. When this occurs, excrement, dust and mites build up in the area and often have an adverse effect on our surroundings. Ok, so how about some home and garden tips to help with bird pest control? How about some scarecrow ideas for repelling birds? Not to worry. The Hillbilly Gardener has battled many of these same issues for years in the Garden of Weedin and has learned many tricks for bird repelling that are quite effective. While it can be quite effective in repelling birds, the Hillbilly Gardener will not discus destruction of any bird on this page due to it being a sensitive issue for many. However, it should be noted that many of the most destructive and damaging birds are not indigenous to the United States and therefore have no natural enemies except for humans. These same imported nuisances can also be quite destructive to the environment by displacing and, in some cases destroying, the naturally occurring species of the area and are generally much less helpful to man or the environment to the point of being destructive. In some cases across the United States, these imported birds are also destructive to buildings and plant life. Therefore, there is no natural means to control their numbers and consequently their potential for damage. Realizing the destructive potential of these birds and the extreme threat they pose on the environment, many state wildlife agencies do now recommend the destruction of these birds whenever it can be done so safely without posing a threat to humans, property or other wildlife. But, all of these things must be carefully and prudently weighed and evaluated by the frugal gardener when considering any form of bird pest control. The "Hilly Gardener" Back To Top Back To Tips And Tricks Index NOTE Please take a moment to read the cautionary notes before checking out our tips and tricks. Think of these as "Safety And Satisfaction Tips". (Click Here) |
Repelling Birds With Flash And Motion Have you had beans or other crops sprouting and went out one morning to find many plants cut off with their tops laying near the stem? Your first thought might be cutworms, but it could just as likely be birds. Starlings, Grackles and a few others have a nasty habit of cutting off many seedlings as they emerge. They seem to be particularly fond of beans . They don't eat them. They simply cut them off and leave the tops lie. One theory is that the birds mistake the new sprouts for bugs about to take flight. In any case, a flock of Starlings can destroy a crop in a day if steps are not taken to ward them off. The flashy "scarecrows" described below also work well at discouraging squirrels. 
A sure sign of bird damage is newly emerging seedlings being cut off near the leaf bud. Cutworms generally cut the plant off close to the ground. | Most birds and squirrels are easily scared off and repelled by things that flash, move and flutter in the breeze. Using this knowledge, old CD's, aluminum pie pans, even shiny can lids can be easily transformed into effective "scarecrows". | 
If using old CD's, start by drilling a small hole toward one edge. | 
For aluminum pie pans, a hammer and nail will do an adequate job of punching a hole. | 
For shiny can lids, a hammer and nail also work. However, bear in mind that the edges will be sharp and will easily inflict nasty cuts. Sturdy gloves are recommended. | 
We use large brass fishing swivels to attach our scarecrows. These are fast and allow free movement without rusting. Study twine can also be used. | 
After creating attaching holes, attach a swivel or sturdy string to the flashy device. The device is no ready for hanging. | We are installing scarecrows here and there singly. For this reason, we created "hangers for our scarecrows out of old wire coat hangers. These are normally free and often an unused item in many households as well as being easy to work with. | If you are installing scarecrows over long rows you can forgo the hangers and simply install a sturdy string along the length of the row, approximately 12 to 18 inches above the row. Make a loop about every 2 to 3 feet along the length of your sting for attaching your flashy scarecrows to. You will need to install "props" about every 4 feet to keep the string from drooping to much. | 
For your hangers, start by twisting two coat hangers together for added stiffness. You will bend one end 90 degrees to form an "L" with the bend approximately 8 to 10 inches long and bend a hook on the end for hanging. | 
Be sure to twist the ends that go into the ground tight to keep them from spreading as you insert your hangers. | 
Because the bare steel will rust and I don't want to replace the hangers very often, I painted the hangers. With some cleaning and periodic repainting, these hangers will last for years. | 
The "flashy scarecrows" installed over newly planted squash. The flashers on these hangers can swivel and dance in the wind, adding even more motion. | Perhaps you have multiple or long rows and you don't have enough flashy items on hand. Simply roll chicken wire into tunnels of and hold in shape with wire hooks also made from coat hangers. Tunnels of about 4 to 5 feet long will make handling them easier. | 
A chicken wire tunnel installed over sprouting bush beans. Make sure the openings in the wire are no more than 2 inches, or birds may get it. Flashers were added to the ends to keep birds out. | 
Roll the cut ends of your tunnels over to eliminate cuts, scratches and clothing tears. | Why not place bird netting over the sprouts? If you do not employ a means of scaring the birds and the protective covering is not stiff enough to resist the birds or supported well enough, many birds will simply reach through the openings with their beaks and grab your seedlings. Starlings and Grackles have even been seen "pushing" against barriers in order to get at what they | are after. Much like livestock pushing through a fence to get to green vegetation on the other side. The barrier must be solid enough and stiff or supported enough to resist a birds force against the barrier. They can be quite persistent if not scared. Whether soft or solid netting, it must be installed so that it is roughly 4-6 inches away from the plants in all directions. Hoops work well if using soft netting. |
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Keep Your Scarecrow Ideas Working A bird scarecrow is an efficient, cost effective means of protecting your crops without the need to resort to destructive measures. However, birds are much more intuitive than most people give them credit for (especially those birds that are the most destructive such as Starlings and Grackles). Birds will often get used to the bird repelling device quite quickly if it remains in one place very long and the birds will learn not fear it and return. Keep your bird repelling devices working by moving them around every day or two. Another effective way to keep your scarecrow ideas working for you when repelling birds is to change colors, color patterns and the amount of flash and movement. Even if you do not change the physical location of your bird scarecrow, just these few simple home and garden tips on repelling birds will keep the birds wary and cause them to avoid the area longer.
Natural Predators Just as any living creature will avoid anything they perceive as a threat to them, birds are no different. Birds have natural predators that seek to have fowl for lunch. Some of these natural predators in an artificial form that the gardener or home owner can bring to bear are: Owls -
These can be either static or animated. Movement through animation works the best, but both work. Remember to mimic an owls natural predation habits when placing your bird repelling owl. Owls always perch where they can see a large area. Place your owl as high as possible. At least 5 to 10 feet above the ground. Have a large, open flight area. Place your owl in the open as much as possible such as on a fence post in the middle or edge of your garden. If you wish to place your owl in a tree, make sure that it is as open as possible and not obscured by leaves and branches. Owls are solitary hunters, so never use more than one owl per half acre or so.
Snakes -
Snakes strike fear in the hearts of most living creatures. Today, rubber snakes seem to abound everywhere. Place these in a natural looking way in garden paths, along tree limbs, porch railings, etc.
CAUTION - Many of these are so realistic looking that they can and will startle or scare the homeowner as much as the birds if you forget they are there. Warn others of their presence if they are entering your garden for the first time as well.
A less startling, alternative that can often be just as effective are old belts. Use belts in colors that naturally appear in snakes in your area. This will usually be in shades of black, brown, gray, etc. Do not use your designer belts in shades of pink, blue, red, etc. unless you have predatory snakes in your area that also sport such bold colors. Use them just you would the rubber snakes above.
Make your "faux snake" more effective by wrapping the buckle with duct tape, etc. and gluing on some eyes that you can find in nearly any craft store or craft department. Just remember to keep them as natural-looking as possible. This normally means eyes that are roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter.
The key to keeping these bird repelling scarecrow ideas working is to move them around every day and multiple times per day is even better. Remember, you are trying to imitate a natural predator. Predators may frequent an area often, but they never stay in one place very long. Back To Top Back To Tips And Tricks Index
The "Hilly Gardener" |
