Letter: How can I save blackcurrants from the birds?
Wednesday 4th August 2010, 8:27AM BST.
Letter: We have grown blackcurrants for many years without problems but this year the bushes have been stripped by birds.
Can any reader suggest a remedy to prevent these pests attacking the currants next year, short of erecting a hugely expensive cage? Unless there is some way of protecting the fruit, we may as well dig the bushes up and, as much as we like to hear song birds, there is no way that they should be fed on garden crops in midsummer.
Maybe all the do-gooders and conservation measures have resulted in a bird population that cannot be sustained on the naturally occurring foods – hence the fruit bush attacks?
Name and address supplied
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One large net found cheaply at most garden centres secured by a number of large wooden posts at £1,85 plus vat from a local agricultural supplier . Problem solved .
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“Maybe all the do-gooders and conservation measures have resulted in a bird population that cannot be sustained on the naturally occurring foods – hence the fruit bush attacks?”
I think you’ll find that currants and berries *are* “naturally occurring foods”.
Can you not put netting above the bushes?
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No wonder there are less and less birds … just let them have them
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Pick them before the birds do :D
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I’d suggest putting up a sign that says “not for consumption by birds”. That should do the trick
How the hell are the birds supposed to know otherwise which berries they can and can’t eat?
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paint them with camouflage paint the birds won’t
see them
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Buy a shotgun. Then wait….
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Get yourself off to Tesco, buy a roll of tin foil. Cut it into 1″ wide strip about 5-6″ long. Roll one end around a branch a couple of times then tape the rolled section. Continue until you have a good amount on the bush. The birds wont come anywhere near they dont like the movement or the light reflection. Good Luck
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If you can’t afford a Fruit Cage, then you could try old CD’s and strips of aluminium foil strung accross the bushes.
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get a cat. if nothing else you don’t ever have to feed the cat.
or put out bird seed, so the birds will eat that instead.
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you could bulid a replica blackcurrent bush, made out of a conductable material, wire it up to the mains, so when the pesky bird attempts to steal a current it will have its beak blown off by 230 volts. Its safe to say he wouldnt come back, but to make sure, lace the fake current with cyanide.
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I agree with the suggestion to hang CDs from a string. However, I am curious about your definition of birds as “pests”. I think it’s all relative. Personally, I’m cheering for the birds ;)
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why is it someone moans about birds eating fruit, they have a right to eat it just like us. the population birds are dying out all your moaning about is how to stop birds eating fruit, get a life get a job do something useful help your neighbour he or she might not get fruit because no ones there to help.
mark
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