How to Keep Birds from Eating Your Blueberries: 6 Humane Ways
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Every gardener knows how much of a hassle birds can be in a backyard. They tend to feed on any seeds and fruits they find, including those in your garden. Their favorite fruits are strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
If you are a blueberry grower and would like to enjoy this season by sharing your blueberry harvest with the entire family, follow some of the methods we listed below. By following these entirely humane methods, you will get rid of all unwanted residents that feed on your fruit. Birds will become only occasional guests to your garden instead of regular residents.
Birds That Feed on Berries
Many bird species adore hunting for wild berries, and stumbling upon a garden like yours may be a real feast. While you may notice some birds hanging around your garden or your blueberries, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will go after them. Most birds prefer hunting for insects rather than fruits or seeds. It is crucial to know which species to look out for to recognize certain birds that spend their time in your garden, feeding on the fruits.
- American robin
- Blue jay
- Eastern bluebird
- Northern cardinal
- Tufted titmouse
- Northern mockingbird
- European starling
- Black-capped chickadee
- House finch
The 6 Humane Ways to Keep Birds from Eating Your Blueberries
1. Reflective Tape
Adding reflective tape to your garden is one of the best solutions to keep the birds away without harming them. When it comes to keeping birds away from your blueberry bushes, sometimes the simplest solution proves to be the most effective. Reflective tape is just what it sounds like—a holographic tape that reflects sunlight. The reflection disturbs the vision of birds, briefly blinding them and keeping them away from your garden.
Another excellent feature of this tape is that it flaps and crinkles in the wind creating irritating sounds for birds. Once you install the tape in your garden, it will stay intact since it is a very durable solution.
Install the reflective tape in desired places. You can install it on bushes, tree trunks, shrubs, or any other elevated object, as long as it is near your blueberries.
- Affordable
- Safe for children and pets
- Harmless for birds
- Versatile and long-lasting
- Over time, birds tend to ignore the tape and still go after berries
- The noise may be disturbing for some people
- Eventually, the tape may rip due to wear and tear
2. Protective Netting
One sure way to prevent birds from reaching the fruit in your garden is to create a type of obstruction that they can’t get past. In this scenario, protective netting may have the best effect. By placing a layer of protective netting on top of your berries, you keep most of the fruit safe from predators.
This method is also effective in other areas of your property, such as balconies and patios, and protecting other plants and fruits. You can also go one step further and place a protective mesh frame around the entire blueberry bush, ensuring the birds cannot penetrate it. These options are easy to obtain in most garden supply stores, or you can even craft one yourself.
Obstruct with protective netting, or purchase one in any garden supply store. Install the netting on the berries, covering the entire bush surface. For better protection, attach the netting to a frame, ensuring the birds cannot reach the fruit or get close to it.
- Affordable
- Easy to install
- Easy to experiment with and tailor the netting
- Versatile protection
- Small birds may be able to get past the obstruction
- The berries that are close to the netting will be less protected
- A bird may get caught or tangled in the netting
3. Pinwheels
Another excellent distraction to put up in your garden for birds is reflective pinwheels. These contraptions work similarly to reflective tape, shimmering in the wind and reflecting sunlight. They are propelled by the wind and can also work as charming garden decor. You can put up several pinwheels around the desired area—around trees, plants, and fruits, on balconies and patios—creating a bird-free environment.
Stuck several pinwheels into the ground around your garden, or pin them up on the roof or balcony. Place them in a windy place to allow them to be propelled. It is essential only to put up pinwheels right when the blueberries are about to become ripen.
- Effective in scaring away all kinds of birds
- Fun and entertaining for kids and pets
- Affordable
- Long-lasting
- It won’t work as well in areas with no wind or breeze
- They may break due to constant wear and tear
4. Birdfeeder Decoy
If you feel bad for scaring away birds and preventing them from feeding, birdfeeder decoys are a fantastic solution for you. This excellent way of keeping birds away from your blueberries works by redirecting their focus. That means providing them with birdfeeders that will take all of their focus. The birds will still have a shelter in your garden and enough food to eat that is easily accessible, but they won’t go near your fruits anymore.
Post birdfeeders in your backyard or garden, attracting birds that feed on blueberries.
- The birds will be distracted from the berries
- Humane
- You won’t deny birds their food
- Some birds still prefer to scavenge for food
5. Wind chimes
Installing wind chimes in your house or garden is one of the best auditory repellants for birds. It is an entirely safe and harmless solution but will work effectively. Wind chimes are made of different materials, but they will always produce music and noise when caught in the wind. The best part is that wind chimes make excellent decor for the garden because they produce music that is pleasant to humans but irritates birds.
Install wind chimes in any windy, elevated area. The wind will move the wind chimes and provide music that will scare the birds and other smaller animals away from your garden.
- Noises are soothing and pleasant to humans
- Effective on birds and other smaller animals
- Entirely safe, humane, and harmless
- It doesn’t affect the birds in any way; it only mildly annoys them
- Entertaining for pets and children
- It may be unpleasant and an irritant to some people
- It may not be as effective in areas without wind or a breeze
6. Motion-activated sprinklers
Placing motion-activated sprinklers in your garden is another excellent way to repel birds without hurting them. While this is the only solution on the list that scares the birds by some type of contact, it is still entirely harmless to birds. They will simply become scared and won’t come to the same place twice. Motion-activated sprinklers will work as soon as a bird or another animal comes close to your fruits. The sensor will monitor the area around your blueberry bushes carefully, and as soon as any motion is detected, the sprinklers will turn on, spraying the nearby culprit.
Install the sprinklers according to the user’s manual, placing them near your blueberry fruit. They will activate as soon as any motion is detected.
- Effective for birds and other animals
- Safe and harmless
- Easy to maintain and install
- Not very practical if you are a pet owner
Conclusion
There are many effective and straightforward methods for scaring birds away from your blueberries. These methods are safe and humane and don’t harm the birds or other creatures nearby. They will simply make your garden unappealing to birds and make them unwilling to return. This way, you will save your berries and enjoy your harvest throughout the season.
Featured Image Credit: ChiemSeherin, Pixabay
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