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.
- gixxerific
- Super Green Thumb
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- Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B
- gixxerific
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
- Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B
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
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
- Super Green Thumb
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- Location: TN/GA 7b
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
- Senior Member
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:00 am
- Location: Eastern PA
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!!
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
- Super Green Thumb
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- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
- Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B