Yellow finch tearing up my garden

[gixxerific]

I can hear them now be back.

Alrighty than they are tearing my garden up like I said. I thought the hornworms and the slugs were bad. These birds are a menace. Anybody got any ideas to alleviate this problem?

I know I could get some row covers but I really don't want to have to do that. I was out with my paintball gun today in wait but of course no sign. Until I'm away from it. Than here she comes just eating away.

[crobi13]

What about fabric strips tied to the tops of stakes near the plants she likes most? The fabric blowing in the breeze should deter her.

[gixxerific]

There's an idea. thanks.

I love the birds the fly around in a cool fashion around my willows plus they look cool. I thought they were getting bugs, until I crept closer to see my plant shrinking with every peck at it. Swiss Chard seem to be the fav.

[cynthia_h]

The finch is probably going for aphids or some other chard-loving insect.

Take a close look at the chard to see what's attracting the birds.

Then...Mylar strips fluttering in the wind were found to be an effective small-bird deterrent (USDA Ag. Res. Center not 5 miles from my house did the pilot test ). Hope it works for you!

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[rainbowgardener]

Finches are in general seed eaters. Look at their short, thick beaks, which are adapted for cracking seeds open. They do also eat bugs. We keep a thistle seed feeder for the finches and I have never seen them bothering any of the plants. I grow a bunch of swiss chard and have never seen them anywhere near it. I think if you gave them a choice of seeds from a feeder, they would much prefer that to greens.

[splat42069]

We have 2 of them around here that eat the seeds from the neighbors Sunflowers.

[nes]

We had a lovely little yellow finch flitting around here... until the cat spotted him .

Honestly I think birds are smart enough if you got a cut-out of a cat and stuck it in the garden they'd probably stay away. I know everyone vacates the neighbourhood when they see our girl go out in the morning!!

[gixxerific]

Here is one of Swiss Chard's

I noticed in the pic I have peas sprouting up to the left of the Chard. I guess I missed that earlier when I went out. gonna go check again.