Birds and Gardens? Conflict of interest?

middlemamma 4/28/2010, 12:51 pm

Newbie here...

Wondering if it's a conflict of interest to invite birds into your garden? Do they destroy/eat the produce?

I was hoping to put some bird feeders etc to try and invite some hummingbirds and other varieties into the yard and I was wondering if this will be counter productive to my SFG efforts? Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Smile

Middlemamma-Jennie

Lavender Debs 4/28/2010, 1:26 pm

middlemamma wrote:snip .....Wondering if it's a conflict of interest to invite birds into your garden? Do they destroy/eat the produce?.....

Not unless it is ripe----Or if it is a fresh sprout

Those are the two problems we have had with birds. Stellar Jays plucked out whole rows (that is how long ago it was) of peas in spring. If I hung a bag of unsalted peanuts in a mesh bag (caution.... you do not want mesh so large that they get their little heads stuck in it, feathers go in but cannot back out!!) they would play with that instead of the peas. Fun to watch.

Strawberries, blueberries and pie cherries needed nets. They look ripe to birds a couple of days before they will look ripe to you. Again, netting (this time just put it on the bush or tree) will keep them out without hurting them.

The bigger problem with seed feeders is that they don't like most of it and toss it to the ground where it can (and will) sprout as weeds in your yard and garden. The dropped weeds also attract rodents, terriers are a good deterrent for rodents but they do like to dig. The other problem is bird poop on lettuce.

I know that seems like a lot but if you are careful where you put the feeders, clean up what falls and not have it so close to the garden that it gets pooped on, you should be fine.

Deborah ....thinking now would be a good time to buy a Siblies Guide

middlemamma 4/28/2010, 1:32 pm

THANK YOU!!! That helps me get it all in perspective. Smile

Just a wonderment...are hummingbirds the same as the birds you mentioned?

What is a Siblies guide?

Jennie

Lavender Debs 4/28/2010, 1:41 pm

Humming birds are not the same, hummers are ALWAYS welcome.

Siblies is a bird id book.

middlemamma 4/28/2010, 2:00 pm

YAY!!! Cause THAT is what I really want...hummingbirds. Smile

Good to know about the book...thank you. Smile

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