by johnah on November 13, 2020
The following are some facts which will help you to decide whether or not it’s worth spending money on a bird netting system for your blueberry plants.
1) Bird Netting For Blueberries Is A Good Investment
Bird nets are one of the best ways to protect your blueberries from birds. They are effective at keeping out both small and large birds such as swallows, crows, jays, magpies and even owls.
2) You Can Get Better Results With A Commercial Bird Netting System For Your Blueberries Than By Yourself Using Your Own DIY Bird Netting System
3) There Are Many Types Of Bird Nets For Blueberries And Each One Will Work Differently Against Various Bats And Other Birds. So Choose The Best Type That Fits Your Needs Most Efficiently!
4) Bird Nets For Blueberries Are More Cost Effective Than DIY Bird Netting Systems For Your Blueberries.
5) If You Have Smaller Or Older Trees Then You Should Consider Buying A Commercial Tree Netting System Instead Of Making Your Own.
Now that you know what bird nets are and whether or not you need one for your blueberry plants, it’s time to break down the different types of bird protection nets that are available, which ones work best for which types of birds and how much you can expect them to cost.
How To Protect Blueberry Plants From Birds (Or Other Pests)
How to keep birds away from blueberries?
This is a question that many people ask themselves every year. Many of those people grow their own blueberries at home and do not want to lose their crops to birds. Other people have trees on their property that attract birds and they are looking for a way to protect them. This article will examine some of the ways you can prevent birds from ruining your crops, your trees or simply being a nuisance all together.
1) Preventative Measures
One of the best ways to keep birds away from an area is by taking preventative measures. There are multiple ways you can do this, some cost nothing at all, others may cost a little or a lot depending on your situation.
A)Netting – Probably one of the most common and effective ways to prevent birds is through netting. You can either purchase netting which is made specifically for this purpose or you can use other types of netting such as fish netting, curtains, window screens or even tulle (If you’re feeling crafty). When using any type of netting it’s best to secure it to the ground to prevent the birds from digging underneath it. This can be done by taking some heavy duty fishing line and running it along the bottom of the netting and tying it to stakes placed in the ground.
If you want to prevent climbing, you can also weave the netting into the trees themselves by taking rope and looping it through the netting and then tying it off on branches. You should also make sure to leave no gaps between the netting and the ground by securing it tightly to the ground all the way around your growing area. This will ensure that the birds don’t have anywhere to get in. The most common types of birds that netting is used to keep away are crows, blue jays, ravens, magpies and most smaller birds as well.
B) Sound Devices – Another option to scare away birds is through the use of sound devices. There are a wide variety of these available and some can even be homemade. The basic idea behind all of them is to create loud noises that frighten birds and keep them away. Some include:
-Hawk Kites: Hawk kites have been used for years by farmers to scare away smaller birds such as hawks, ravens, crows and even some types of owls. These kites are usually very large and colorful and often times have a spinning tail. The movement and noise created by these kites is often enough to scare smaller birds that might be tempted to prey on the smaller birds that are normally in the area.
-Sound Generators: There are also sound generators that can be purchased or even homemade. These generators make loud hissing, screeching or other annoying sounds that birds find repulsive. These are great to use if you only need to protect a smaller area.
-Pyrotechnics: Another option is to scare away birds with fireworks or something similar. These obviously should be used with caution and only by an adult. Fireworks can be a great tool to prevent bird problems and can often times scare birds that other methods won’t affect.
C) Habitat Modification: This is a method of prevention that requires you to change the bird’s surroundings. The goal is to make the environment less desirable and more dangerous for birds. You can do this by removing all sources of water, covering all garbage bins (Even tightly closing lids has been known to prevent birds from being able to access the garbage), and trimming any trees or bushes that could provide potential roosting sites.
D) Equipment Modification: Like habitat modification, this is also designed to make the trees less desirable to birds. This can be done by placing thin strips of metal or aluminum foil on all possible perches or even using fake snakes (The ones that glow in the dark work especially well since birds are naturally afraid of snakes and most other reptiles).
E) Poison: The use of poison to kill birds may not be the most ethical method, but it is an option. There are a wide variety of poisons that can be used but it should be noted that if this method is chosen, continual re-application may be necessary since birds will become accustomed to the poison over time.
Other Bird Proofing Methods
A) Netting: One of the most common methods of bird control is the use of bird netting. This is readily available for purchase and easy to install. The downside to using this method is that it must be removed every breeding season (Spring/Summer) when birds are able to reach under and around the netting or nest in the netting itself. There are specially designed bird nets that address this problem, but they tend to be more expensive than the garden variety.
B) Visual Scaring Devices: There are several different visual scare devices on the market. These devices work by creating a large visual image or movement to frighten birds away. These can be placed above areas you would like to protect and since they are visual in nature they can be used in combination with other bird proofing methods.
C) Noise Generators: Noise is often an important part of keeping birds away. There are a variety of different methods for creating noise from radios and vinyl records to actual people shouting. Noise will always work to some degree but the problem is that if used too much it becomes less effective so it should be used in combination with other bird control measures.
Bubbleshield Bird Barrier is a passive visual and sound barrier that is both alerting and startling to birds. It consists of a series of cables that are connected to a series of golf ball like balloons. When these cables are disturbed, the balloons pop causing a loud popping sound and the cables flap in the breeze creating a visual disturbance.
Triggered by both movement and weight, the balloons explode in a popping frenzy scaring birds away. The barrier can be used to protect large outdoor areas and will frighten all manner of pest birds including pigeons, sparrows, crows, blackbirds and more.
This system is quite simply one of the most effective bird deterrents you can buy. Our customers have told us they think this system is far superior to other visual barriers on the market and that the startling effects will last a lot longer than those created by other systems.
Installing a Bubbleshield is simple and only requires screwing the posts into place. The barrier can then be attached to these and will provide protection for an area of up to 2500 square feet.
Bubbleshield is different from other bird control systems in that it is both a visual and auditory barrier. This means that it can be used in larger outdoor areas where other protection may be needed such as around buildings, windows and vehicles. Other systems are limited to smaller areas and only protect against a single pest species.
This means that a Bubbleshield offers fantastic value for money whilst providing excellent ongoing protection.
The Bubbleshield system is also exceptionally efficient and requires a lot less set up time than other systems. It can be easily installed by one person in just a few minutes.
Because the scaring effect of the system is both visual and auditory it will continue to protect an area long after the system has been installed.
Bubbleshield comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty and is very cost effective when compared to other more permanent protection methods.
Bubbleshield works well in most outdoor areas but it is particularly effective around billboards and large buildings. It can also be used to create a temporary barrier whilst breeding populations of pest birds are being controlled by more traditional means.
Other visual barriers on the market use plastic owls and other similar motifs that act as a deterrent to pest birds. These unfortunately tend to be fairly ineffective against many species of birds and in some cases may even act as an attractant!
The makers of the Bubbleshield have gone a different route and have designed a barrier that is both eye-catching and startling to birds. The system has been designed to both appeal to and scare birds of all types and has been proven to be much more effective than other visual deterrents on the market.
The system has a number of strategically placed balloons that, when disturbed, create an eye-catching movement in the barrier. When a bird flies into one of these and pops it, the rest of the balloons pop causing a chain reaction and a loud popping sound.
This startling and sudden noise is enough to scare birds and other small pests away from the protected area.
The barrier comes with everything you need to get started and can be installed quickly and easily by one person.
Once set up the Bubbleshield is very low maintenance and will provide protection for an exceptionally long time. The balloons can be replaced using a standard party supply store if needed.
Bubbleshield is a very effective visual deterrent that can be used in a wide range of situations to protect against pest birds. Unlike other systems it does not have any negative effects on the local bird population and can even be used to help prevent flock collisions with buildings.
The system comes with everything you need to set it up straight away and includes an easy to follow instruction manual.
Bubbleshield System Highlights:
Protection from pest birds
Very easy to set up and install
Can be set up by one person
Scares away or discourages pest birds
Very effective against a wide range of bird species and even some mammals such as pigeons.
No ongoing costs as the balloons do not require replacing. May require some balloon replacement in extreme weather conditions.
1 year manufacturers warranty included!
Bubbleshield is a very effective and easy to use visual bird deterrent. It can be easily installed by one person and does not require any heavy maintenance. The manufacturers warranty gives added peace of mind.
Bubbleshield is perfect for:
Business and industry
Airports
Places of worship
Schools and colleges
Residential homes and back gardens
Commercial buildings and billboards
Zoos and wildlife parks
Anywhere where pest birds pose a problem.
Bubbleshield cannot be used in some extreme weather conditions. It is important to treat all bird infestations as a health hazard and professionals should be consulted before installing any animal deterrents.
If you need professional pest control advice on how to treat a bird infestation please contact your local pest control company or zoological society.
Bubbleshield is an effective and easy to use visual bird deterrent. Perfect for protecting your garden, large tree orchard, golf course or home from pest birds. The unique barrier uses a combination of brightly coloured balloons and startling popping noises to scare birds away.
Bubbleshield is simple to set up and install, can be used by one person and requires no ongoing costs other than replacing the balloons which should last between 1-2 years.
The barrier works by presenting a visual barrier of balloons which are brightly coloured and irrestible to birds. When the balloons are disturbed they begin to move and make popping noises scaring birds away. The barrier is completely portable and can be moved and adjusted as needed.
Bubbleshield works on the principle that birds have a natural fear of objects which move in a way which suggests they are alive, this is why birds are repelled by normal visual bird deterrents such as swung shutters or flags.
Bubbleshield combines a line of balloons which move in the wind and make a popping noise when disturbed. The addition of the balloons means that the system can protect a wider area and can be used in situations were a solid barrier is not desirable.
Please note: We cannot ship this product to the following locations: Scottish Highlands, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland or to international destinations.
Sources & references used in this article:
Evaluation of a methyl anthranilate formulation for reducing bird damage to blueberries by JL Cummings, ML Avery, PA Pochop, JE Davis Jr… – Crop Protection, 1995 – Elsevier
Chemical repellents and plastic netting for reducing bird damage to sweet cherries, blueberries, and grapes by PD Curtis, IA Merwin, MP Pritts, DV Peterson – HortScience, 1994 – journals.ashs.org
Behavioral techniques to reduce bird damage to blueberries: methiocarb and a hawk-kite predator model by MR Conover – Wildlife Society Bulletin, 1982 – JSTOR
Assessment of bird damage to early-ripening blueberries in Florida by CO Nelms, ML Avery… – Proceedings of the …, 1990 – digitalcommons.unl.edu
Aerially applied methiocarb spray for protecting wild lowbush blueberries from birds by RM Bollengier, JL Guarino… – Bird Control Seminars …, 1973 – digitalcommons.unl.edu
Using conditioned food aversions to protect blueberries from birds: comparison of two carbamate repellents by MR Conover – Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1985 – Elsevier
Evaluation of methyl anthranilate as a bird repellent in fruit crops by ML Avery – Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 1992 – escholarship.org
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