birds eating cherries

[Mosey]

It’s been a couple years since we’ve had any cherries due to early warm weather, which caused the trees to bud out early, combined with late frosts. This year I expect to get some though, since we didn’t get the early warm weather. The thing I remember from 3 years ago was that we had trouble picking the cherries before the birds ate them. As soon as they turn red, the birds get them. My neighbor says to just pick them green, but I don’t want to do that. I’ve seen fake owls, snakes, pie tins, etc. What works and what doesn’t? What about nets over the tree?

 

[centex]

I have the same problem with figs. I planted three fig trees because I like to eat figs but the birds ruin every single one of them unless you I them green. The birds eat the side out of each fig just when it is ripe for picking. The only way to save them is to pick them a day early and let them ripen on a window sill. I have tried fake owls and snakes as well as nets but nothing has worked and I have never gotten a ripe fig before the birds. The nets are a real pain and the birds still manage to get through them. I would really like to find a way to save at least a few figs.

 

[Harv]

Anybody besides me get this mental picture when you saw this thread title? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[pennwalk]

We have had good luck with nets over the blueberries. Catbirds still get in but we get our share. We build a simple pvc pipe frame to hold the net off the bushes and to give the kids room to get in and pick for us. I love blueberry pie. Wish I had one right now. yummmmmm./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Chris

 

[Hillbilly]

My gosh............ I aint never seen a bird like that before,
Except........I do not know where.
Thats a good old bird to have around.

 

[Blackberry1]

I just buy my 13 year old son about 5-6 boxes of the cheapest shotgun shells I can find and tell him to shoot any bird that eats cherries. He becomes a better shot and I get my fair share of the cherries.
Blackberry1

 

[EdKing]

Harv,
I was just thinking the same thing when I saw your post. So is that what Bird has been doing since he sold his tractor ?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I think I'll plant some cherry trees up here, be nice to have an exellent source of tractor information about./w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

 

[Argee]

Nets would be a good alternative. Have you thought about feral cats? They would do a good job of discouraging the birds. Also good for keeping other vermin in check.

 

[MossRoad]

I saw yellow cherries, I think at Henry Fields, that are ripe when they are yellow. The birds don't peck them because they are waiting for the red ones.

But, that doesn't help your current situation. I'd try nets.

What do commercial growers do? We go cherry picking every year and don't seem to find any damaged berries.

 

[Mosey]

Harv - "Anybody besides me get this mental picture when you saw this thread title?"

Yup, right after I posted I realized I left myself wide open for that one!

MossRoad - "What do commercial growers do?"

That's a good suggestion. I'll try to find out how they do it.