Asked on Jul 10, 2015

Tips to keep birds from eating my blueberry bush

Sparrows have been devouring my blueberry bush-- any tips on how to protect it or keep them away?
  22 answers
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jul 10, 2015
    netting
  • Jollyroger Jollyroger on Jul 10, 2015
    I've had good luck tying streamers on several branches. I use bright yellow "caution tape" you can get at Home Depot or any building supply. It comes on a large roll and I cut off strips and tie them on loosely.
  • Rhonda B Rhonda B on Jul 11, 2015
    Netting or row covers.
  • Linda Hunt Linda Hunt on Jul 11, 2015
    Tin pie plates that can bang together also help as long as you can handle the sound too!
  • Irene Irene on Jul 11, 2015
    Put a couple of owl statues in garden. Sparrows are afraid of owls.
  • Carolyn Carolyn on Jul 11, 2015
    inexpensive cheesecloth put over the plant tops, usually helps a lot
  • Norma W Norma W on Jul 11, 2015
    I use the large pinwheels that have the metallic colors, they reflect the sun and move with the wind. I have used these for the past four years and have not lost any blueberries to birds. Once the berries on done, I take the pinwheels down and save them for the following year. I just pick them up first thing in the spring at the dollar store.
  • Kathy Kathy on Jul 11, 2015
    I use row covers. Sometimes a bird will get trapped under it and I'll need to rescue it.
  • MJ MJ on Jul 11, 2015
    What about weaving an old garden water hose or soaker hose so they think it is a snake? I did that to my grape vines.
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Jul 11, 2015
    I use 99 cent mylar pinwheels from the toy department and place them around my blackberries. NEVER saw a bird near them.
  • J J on Jul 11, 2015
    Mylar, noise makers and row covers are the best non lethal means. Cats and BB guns ( assuming it's legal)are effective lethal means
  • Joe1905492 Joe1905492 on Jul 11, 2015
    We successfully bought (by the yard, a mesh-like fabric & put over the plant as soon as you see a berry. Cheesecloth might work, as well.
  • Lisa Williams Lisa Williams on Jul 11, 2015
    My husband's grandma used to save aluminum pie plates to tie to posts near her plants. I have heard of using mesh or chicken wire above bushes to deter birds. There is also some stuff called Scare Tape. It is a roll of silver, hologram printed material similar to mylar, but thicker. you can cut it to whatever lengths you need. It flaps is the breeze and makes some noise as well as reflecting the sunlight. You can find it on Amazon
    • Terry Clum Fassburg Terry Clum Fassburg on Jul 21, 2019

      I've tried all of these, except chicken wire which obviously won't work since the openings are bigger than almost any bird, and none helped except netting. The problem with netting is that to get it big enough to cover all my bushes, it's quite expensive. I put the ground staples ever 3-4" and still got lots of bird caught inside.

  • Tina phelps Tina phelps on Jul 11, 2015
    I had problems with birds eating my tomatoes until I started using Scare Tape. It's a holographic ribbon. Just cut it up in 4 to 5 foot strips and tie it to a few branches. It reflects the sunlight in a rainbow of colors that scares birds. You can order it from Amazon. It's very affordable.
  • Dave Free Dave Free on Jul 11, 2015
    I use plastic netting that's made for that purpose. Just drape it over the plant and birds can't get to the berries. Works good.
  • Christina Dorrego Christina Dorrego on Jul 12, 2015
    I would think netting of some sort, they may get the outside ones but they would not reach the inside ones. Netting will allow the sun to get through. Or tulle, that mesh fabric that veils are made out of. No berries for birds! Edit for spelling.
  • Pam Edmonds Pam Edmonds on Jul 12, 2015
    scarecrow style =long garden wires with strips of white fabric or plastic that move in the wind attached at the top =these generally scare the birds.
  • Andrew Andrew on Jul 12, 2015
    Get a cat.
  • Pattiecake51 Pattiecake51 on Jul 12, 2015
    Netting. Although a cat would be a nice pet
  • Vicki Vicki on Jul 12, 2015
    we have 4 blueberry bushes and the strips of foil didn't help. The birds are smart and went under We now have nets that drape over and no birds
  • Joyce Joyce on Jul 13, 2015
    I have had birds and snakes get caught in the netting and die. Not a pretty sight.
  • Joan Joan on Jul 14, 2015
    Go to Goodwill and get sheer curtain panels. These work better than netting.