From

Location

Message

Date Posted

WALES, NEW YORK

Last year I had some kind of bird that got into the patch and ate all the buds on the pumpkins I was about to pollinate ... I thought it was maybe because of the drought we had last year and maybe the birds were trying to get some water out of them or something but today birds ate one of my secondaries on the leading tip ..any ideas how to spook them out of there ...I have scarecrows and noisenakers out there already ...I think they like them !! lol lol

6/7/2013 5:23:55 PM

Cedar Lake, IN.

Use rubber snakes they seem to help.

6/8/2013 8:59:00 AM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

see my diary, use small, round clothes baskets. Rubber snakes work too!

6/8/2013 12:50:01 PM

South Hero, VT

Are you sure it's birds? If it is, try stringing twine throughout the plants so they get tangled up when they try to land.

A sort of spider web for birds.

6/8/2013 6:07:31 PM

WALES, NEW YORK

Thanks everybody for your help ...Im about 99%sure that it's birds ... tons of droppings all around the main vine where it's hilled up a bit ... the nursery i stopped at suggested bonide shotgun all animal repellent to spray around the perimeter ... has anyone ever heard of or used it before ?? snakes are in the patch ... I'll take a look and try the string idea as well ...

6/8/2013 9:50:57 PM

South Hero, VT

The string needs to be ABOVE the plants, so the birds wings get caught when they land.

Sorry about the poor description in previous post.

6/9/2013 7:14:43 AM

The bottom of New Jersey

Make sure to move the rubber snakes around every few days.

6/9/2013 7:24:44 AM

Simi valley, ca

I have had same thing happen . Here it is quail i am sure , they come in flocks of up to 30, i put paint strainers over the baby pumpkins ,like the way we would during pollination , It works !!

6/9/2013 11:06:07 AM

East Jordan, MI

putting one of those plastic owls up on a post works pretty good for birds and small varmits too.

6/9/2013 8:37:13 PM

Bethlehem CT

I Have had the same problem here. I was able to protect the fruit with a clothes basket. But they still made holes in the vines.

6/9/2013 9:41:38 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

I have used rubber snakes also for 3 years, not sure if it works, but I have not had bird problems. Snakes don't work here for chipmunks and squirrels.

6/10/2013 7:37:43 AM

Muddy Waters

Owls scare birds away the make a plastic ball that mimic's an owl. sold at most hardwares.

6/10/2013 8:19:34 AM

WALES, NEW YORK

Thanks for all the input !!! I'll be using these ideas ... Very helpful !!

6/10/2013 12:06:09 PM

WALES, NEW YORK

I put the animal repellent spray around the perimeter and around the plants last night ..I'll keep everybody posted on how well that works... It's supposed to deter birds as well ...

6/10/2013 12:08:26 PM