Is Your Garden Party for the Birds?

by Alex A. Kecskes

It’s time for the annual round of garden parties. But unless you’ve implemented effective bird control measures, your garden party may be for the birds.

Many homeowners who have spent time and money to beautify their gardens are sending out invitations. Like you, they’re preparing for garden parties and backyard get-togethers with friends and relatives. As is typical during these functions, food and beverages of all kinds will be available on veranadas, under umbrealls and patios, and gazebos decorated in the season’s flowers.

But without bird control, pest birds can wreak havoc at a garden party. They can “dive bomb” food set out on tables, even snatch food out of the hands of children. And heaven forbid, your “uninvited guests” leave droppings on tables, chairs, benches and unattended food!

Fortunately, you can avail yourself of the pest bird deterrents today’s professionals use. These measures are both highly effective and humane. Here are a few of the most popular:  
Sonic Bird Deterrents

Ideal for large gardens, Sonic Bird Deterrents emit bird distress and predator calls that make pest birds want to leave. For example, some devices can broadcast the sounds of peregrine falcons (a pigeon's natural enemy) as well as the sounds of other pigeons being attacked. No bird wants to be in an area where they might be hunted. The sounds resemble normal bird sounds, so they won’t irritate your pets, friends or neighbors. If your not sure which species of bird is attacking your garden, one sonic system currently on the market emits distress and predator calls for 22 different species of birds. This unit covers up to an acre of land and can be programmed to turn on or off at night.  By the way, don’ bother with ultrasonic bird deterrents, for birds can’t hear them and they are largely ineffective.

Visual Bird Deterrents

Easy to set up and use, Visual Bird Deterrents can be highy effective in deterring pest birds from gardens and patios, especially when combined with other bird deterrents. Visual deterrents include Flash Tape and Reflective Banners, as well as Scare Eye Diverters and Bird Scare Balloons (featuring large mock predator eyes). Visual deterrents bob and weave in the breeze to create distractions that make pest birds too nervous to hang around. Simply attach these deterrents to any high visibility area in your garden and move them about from time to time.

Red-Tail Hawk Decoys

Combining decoration with function, Red-Tail Hawk Decoys intimidate most bids because real Hawks hunt during the day when most birds are active. It’s important to get the most realistic looking decoy you can find. And make sure it’s made of heavy duty plastic to endure several seasons outdoors. Here, again, it’s a good idea to move the decoy around often to convince birds that your decoy is a real threat.