Birds & Tomatoes...

 My roommate seems rather concerned with the possibility of birds destroying
my developing crop of tomatoes. Only the cherries have started to ripen at
this time but he keeps warning me that birds will peck the fruit to steal
the juices within.

First off, is this a REAL possiblity/problem or just some old wives tale
he's blown out of proportion.

Second if it IS a real issue what can I do to combat this? He suggests
placing shiny pie-pans around the garden on sticks to scare the birds off. I
vaguely remember someone mentioning having a birdbath near (but not in) your
garden can help with this, as it provides an alternative and easier to
obtain source of water.

I am amusedly concerned. Is this something I really need to worry over, or
just another of his "bird brained" ideas?


Mike Stevenson
Eastern Panhandle WV
USDA Zone 6B

 wrote in rec.gardens.edible:


Birds may peck at the fruit to obtain water.  Set up a bird bath and keep it
filled so that the birds obtain their water from it.
--
Gardening Zones
Canada Zone 5a
United States Zone 3a
Near Ottawa, Ontario

 
It is true that birds will sometimes use a tomato as a source of water--this
can occur in dry times when natural water is scarce and the extent of the bird
population may play a part. it is by no means a normal happening and does not
often occur. but it is a possibility. A bird bath would be a good idea as for
the rest i would not bother unless actual bird attacks do occur..This can vary
widely from area to area so your local situation may differ from other parts of
your state or the nation.

 
Tie a CD onto a nearby tree and let it swing in the wind. The flashing light
will chase away birds.

--

Charles
Remove the tYpo to make mind...

 walker333@adelphia.net writes:

My initial reaction is that he is mis-informed or incompletely informed.

I have dozens of tomato plants, fruits in all colors, and have never,
repeat, never, had a bird peck in a single one of them.  However, the bird
bath beside the garden always has water and the bird feeder in the middle
of the garden usually has food every day. Perhaps my garden has been
exceptionally lucky, but that's my experience.  I would suspect if one
were a bird, it'd be easier (and safer) to get a drink from an open
container of water than from a tomato.

The cherries, on the other hand, are another matter.  They are eating the
cherries, not getting liquid.  Also, those cherries are sitting there,
shining in the sun, asking to be eaten. <g>

Glenna