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Yellow finch tearing up my garden
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:57 pm
by 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.
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:44 pm
by 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.
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:17 pm
by 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.
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:26 am
by 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
finches
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:33 am
by 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.
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:17 am
by splat42069
We have 2 of them around here that eat the seeds from the neighbors Sunflowers.
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:34 am
by 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!!
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:16 am
by 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.
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/DSC02724.jpg[/img]