In addition to growing plants, many gardeners like to encourage insects and birds to wander through the garden. Birds can certainly be beneficial, uprooting caterpillars and other pesky pests, and consuming dirty fruits, but some bird species are downright annoying or harmful. Do you know how to get rid of birds that are causing problems in your home and garden? Read on to get some ideas.
Types of bird damage
In addition to damaging or consuming tender, ripe fruits from trees and beds, birds can spread diseases and pests such as mites , lice, or fleas. Birds transmit a surprisingly large number of diseases, including West Nile virus and Salmonella, which are serious dangers to humans. Droppings can stain cement, damage vehicles, or create slip and fall hazards, and let’s face it, no one wants to fall into bird poop.
Even if the birds in your garden aren’t disease-ridden pooping machines, troublemakers like pigeon starlings or English sparrows often injure or kill more harmless native birds like bluebirds, purplebirds, and woodpeckers . These stalker birds tend to harass smaller birds at feeders, turning your yard into a war zone.
Bird control in the garden
Bird pest control is far from simple and there are few effective natural bird repellents; Most experts recommend a variety of scare tactics designed to harass problem birds into seeking refuge elsewhere. When using these scare tactics, remember that birds are intelligent and adapt quickly to a single frightening stimulant, so you will need to alternate between several for the best effect. Common scare tactics include audio recordings of endangered bird species, pyrotechnics, and predator decoys.
In addition to employing scare tactics, you will need to block vents or holes with chicken wire to prevent unwanted birds from hiding. Destroy any nests that you are sure belong to problem birds; Check trees, bushes, and under eaves for hidden nests. Sticky barriers can also work to repel birds that are only a nuisance in a limited area, but they should be changed regularly and will not discriminate between species.
Using bird netting to cover plants that problem birds find attractive can also be very helpful.
If you decide to feed native birds, choose perchless feeders and only feed black oil sunflower , niger seeds, or safflower which smaller birds prefer.
Where kestrels or falcons are active , you can install a nest box lined with thick wood chips and fitted with a perch away from obstructions and regular activities to encourage them to nest in your garden. These may take a couple of years to attract, but will keep many offensive birds under control once established.