Keep Birds Out of Strawberries: 9 Effective Methods to Protect Your Crop

Nothing is more frustrating than nurturing a lush patch of juicy red strawberries only to have birds swoop in and steal the ripe fruit before you harvest. Birds love strawberries as much as we do! While sharing is caring, most gardeners want to reap the rewards of their labor The good news is many effective options exist to keep birds away and let you enjoy the strawberries

Why Birds Love Strawberries

Before exploring deterrents, it’s helpful to understand what attracts birds to strawberry patches in the first place.

• Bright red ripe fruit is highly visible and signals an irresistible treat.

• Berries provide birds with sweet, juicy flesh and nutrients they crave.

• Strawberry flowers provide nectar for energy,

• Plants offer shelter and nesting sites for raising young.

• Birds have keen vision and scent to zone in on berries.

• Sparse foliage exposes more fruit than dense berry brambles.

Knowing birds’ motivation helps inform the best strategies to discourage their strawberry thievery.

Top Methods to Keep Birds Out of Your Strawberry Patch

Use these proven techniques to effectively deter birds from ruining your strawberry crop:

1. Netting

Covering plants with bird netting is the single most reliable method to protect strawberries. Drape lightweight plastic mesh over hoops, frames, or supports. Secure the edges with stakes or weigh down with rocks. For best results:

• Use 1⁄4 inch mesh size to exclude small birds while allowing pollinators access.

• Erect supports to keep netting from resting on plants.

• Check for and repair holes birds can sneak through.

• Lift netting to harvest then replace afterwards.

2. Scarecrow

Nothing signals a garden is protected better than a scarecrow. Make your own unique scarecrow or purchase a ready-made model. Position the scarecrow where birds can see it well as they approach your plot. Move occasionally so it doesn’t become part of the scenery.

3. Scare Tape

Flashy reflective tape or streamers suspended around your strawberry patch scare birds with movement and noise. Silver strips that shimmer in the breeze work better than solid colors. Hang multiple strands at varying heights to cover space completely.

4. Fake Predators

Set out fake owls, hawks, snakes or predators the birds in your area fear. Use lifelike models that deter birds from realizing they’re not real. Move frequently for best results. Alternatively, install predator silhouette cutouts on tall stakes that wave in the wind.

5. Noisemakers

Loud sounds frighten birds and make them avoid the area. Wind chimes are a pleasant option. For maximum effectiveness, use distress call recordings of problem bird species in your location played randomly. Other disruptive noises like banging pie pans or crinkling plastic may work too.

6. Shiny Deterrents

Birds are wary of shiny objects, so hang old CDs, metallic streamers, aluminum pie pans, or mirrors around your strawberry patch. Anything that spins, flashes brightly, or moves in the breeze helps convince birds to dine elsewhere. Relocate regularly so birds don’t become accustomed.

7. Plant Camouflage

Hide fruits beneath foliage to make picking harder for birds. Growing vining strawberries or bushy everbearing varieties with adequate leaf coverage offers some protection. Or companion plant larger flowers, vegetables, or herbs around low-growing strawberries.

8. Apply Repellents

Non-toxic taste or smell repellents may discourage bird feeding. Compounds like methyl anthranilate or capsaicin make fruits less palatable. Some are sprayed directly on berries but should be reapplied frequently. Others adhere to netting or aluminum foil strips surrounding plants.

9. Pick Early, Pick Often

Harvest ripe strawberries as frequently as possible. The fewer fresh berries available at any given time, the less likely birds are to take notice. Visit your patch at least every other day and pick every fully ripe berry during peak season.

When Birds Are Most Problematic for Strawberries

Be extra vigilant protecting your strawberry crop during:

• Spring migration when birds are very active and hungry.

• Right before berries start ripening to keep birds from staking claims.

• During peak harvest time when bushes are full of ripe fruit.

• Any period of drought stress when birds seek out moist berries.

• Fall migration as birds forage heavily before migrating south.

Tips for Deterring Birds from Strawberries

Follow these tips to maximize effectiveness when employing deterrents:

• Start using protections as soon as flowers finish blooming.

• Combine multiple deterrents like scare tape and noisemakers.

• Vary locations and change things up frequently.

• Patrol your plot and repair any access points.

• Pick berries early and often to minimize available fruit.

• Accept some loss and share your bounty.

• Remain vigilant as birds can become habitual.

Common Birds that Feast on Strawberries

While all birds enjoy berries, these species frequently plague strawberry patches:

• Robins
• Grackles
• Crows
• Starlings
• Finches
• Orioles
• Cardinals
• Jays
• Sparrows
• Waxwings

Learn which birds frequent your area and note if any become repeat offenders. Focus deterrents on discouraging those troublemakers.

When to Stop Deterring Birds from Strawberry Plants

As tempting as strawberries are, birds also provide valuable benefits to gardens by consuming insect pests and enhancing pollination. Once your strawberry season winds down, consider removing deterrents to improve access for birds.

Reasons to stop deterring birds in late summer and fall:

• Let birds feast on remaining berries left unpicked.

• Birds eat pests like aphids while plants are flowering.

• Late pollination improves next year’s berry crop.

• Birds spread seeds through droppings which fertilizes.

• Discouraging birds discourages all wildlife long-term.

Finding the right balance allows you to protect strawberries while your crop is producing. Then show good faith by opening up habitat again once the growing season concludes.

Enjoy Bird-Free Berries with Simple Safeguards

With minimal investment and effort, you can implement reliable bird deterrents and keep your strawberry harvest safe from thieving beaks. Simple solutions like netting, scare tactics, and harvesting frequently pay off in bountiful yields. Get creative in finding methods birds in your area respond to best. Soon you’ll be gathering basketfuls of lush berries to enjoy thanks to effective bird-free gardening.

Frequently Asked Questions About Deterring Birds From Strawberries

Having problems protecting your strawberries from hungry birds? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:

What is the most effective way to keep birds from eating strawberries?

Undoubtedly the most effective deterrent is covering plants with 1⁄4-inch mesh plastic bird netting. Drape over supports to prevent the netting from crushing plants.

How do you keep birds from stealing strawberries without netting?

Try combining multiple deterrents like scarecrows, reflective tape, wind chimes, predator decoys, and distress call recordings. Relocate and vary them frequently.

Will birds eventually get used to scare tactics and return?

Yes, birds can become accustomed to stationary scare devices which is why changing, moving, and alternating different deterrents works best to keep birds guessing.

Is it okay to use bird netting while strawberry plants are flowering?

Yes, just ensure the netting doesn’t rest directly on plants. The 1⁄4-inch holes allow pollinators to reach flowers. Remove during harvest.

When is the best time to set up bird protection in your strawberry patch?

Set up deterrents just before the first berries start ripening as birds begin staking out future feeding spots at the first signs.

Scare away birds with consistent diligence and soon you’ll relish the fruits of your unpecked labor – sweet, juicy strawberries galore!