How to protect strawberries from thrushes?

Berry plantings delight the eyes of farmers ... and not only them. Every time the harvest season draws near, impassive glances are already looking at the gardens and orchards.And we must be ready to give due resistance to the feathered "lovers of sweets."

There are many options for saving sweet fruits. But it is important to understand how to protect, preserve Victoria and other strawberry varieties most effectively. In recent years, the number of birds trying to peck strawberries and other berry crops, leaving people only bare shoots, has increased significantly. The most dangerous situation when there is:

• forest;
• pond;
• lake;
• other gardens;
• cemeteries.

It is important to understand that not only blackbirds peck strawberries - other feathered creatures share the passion for it. Pigeon and drake, sparrow and tit, starling and nightingale, goldfinch and rook ... does not matter, they all love the "dessert". Moreover, birds often move from one plant to another. And soon their beaks will be aimed at raspberries, cherries, and so on. Therefore, methods of protection should be used necessarily, especially if gardeners are on the site occasionally.

First of all, if the birds eat berries, you need to make a fence of the grid. This is the most effective technique that does not pose a danger to flying creatures. Special grids can be both metal and polypropylene. The difference between them is also related to the geometry of the cells: they are made in the form of diamonds or rectangles. Mesh constructions fully cover the landing from the inhabitants of heaven, but do not interfere with the flow of light and water. Pollinating insects freely penetrate through the net, and it does not interfere with leaf feeding.

Here it is important to take into account several nuances:

• the easiest way is to hammer the pins along the perimeter and tighten the net 0.3 m above the bushes;
• you can make a greenhouse like, when the network relies on the arc;
• when harvesting and other works of the region, it will be possible to slightly lift and return to the site.

The use of compact discs, as well as DVD media and similar data recording media, is an excellent hint. Old unnecessary blanks or tapes for tape recorders and video tape recorders extracted can be hung in thoroughly lit places. But it is important to note that protection works mainly in sunny weather. There is a risk that protective disks and ribbons will be torn off by the wind and rain or that small birds will bypass them. In addition, it is impossible to hang it all up on the strawberry bushes themselves (unlike cherries and other crops of sufficient height) - you will have to create additional supports.

Anything that reflects light can also be used: unnecessary polished metal objects, fragments of mirrors, aluminum foil, Christmas-tree decorations. But excessive brightness and glare can be tiring to see. Because it is still worth thinking about the sound means to scare away birds. Ten to twenty cans of beer or canned food, tied to each other, can create a deafening for winged noise. In addition, it is worthwhile to hang a small pocket mirror: it will complement the acoustic protection with optical effects.

The protective properties of the banks show only when the wind. In addition, the birds can quickly adapt to the rumble, and soon it will cease to disturb them. A scarecrow, especially when combined with rattles or ribbons, can also lose its effectiveness rather soon.

Equipment broadcasting the cries of hawks and owls, and other animals that hunt a herbivorous bird, helps to escape from rodents. But so far, especially considering the negative experience of some airports. There, too, tried to use this method, but soon the birds revealed a deception. In addition, the sharp sounds of few people like it.

The general conclusion is this: a method has not yet been invented that would be as versatile, reliable and effective as covering a strawberry with a net.

Another simple and interesting way to protect strawberries from birds, see the following video.