Who Has The Answer?

[newnandawg]

I was so looking forward to posting and tasting this one and only huge Nordland breba.
As green as it still is the birds destroyed it along with another variety that was in an
organza bag. I have had very good success using the organza bags in the past
few years but looks like the birds have figured it out. The Nordland was not in a bag
because it would not fit. Here are some pics anyway.

[Rafaelissimmo]

The answer is: birdnets, .22, and a couple of wild cats.

[newnandawg]

Rafael, those are all good ones. To many trees for that though. I have the .22 just need
the cats. LOL

[COGardener]

A pair of Jack Russell terriers!!!

[kubota1]

I can't help with the bird problem. Never had that problem. But that Nordland looks just like my LdA breba.

[FMD]

No answer here, but I can tell you that my birds are Einsteins compared to yours. They figured out the Organza bags on day one in my yard.

[Hershell]

Frank. The birds learn from watching you so what do you expect?

[FMD]

I tried blindfolding the birds before applying the organza bags...still a no go. They are purely demonic.

[Hershell]

You could build PVC frames that are portable and zip tie bird netting to it. They could be moved to your most prized trees at the time and staked in place. Ok. What do I win? I have extra netting if you need some so that makes you the winner.

[rayrose]

I was going to post a picture of my hoop house, but the file size was too big.
All of my figs will be planted in a 60 ft. row within a PVC framed hoop house covered
in commercial bird netting. I have one for my blueberries and the birds can't get to
them. It stays up year round, but I can take it down in less than an hour, if I had to.
If I'm going to grow delicious figs, the freaking birds are not going to touch them.

[FMD]

Tried that, Hershell. They found a way in and a way out.

[Sarahkt]

Good idea. I need to put more of a rigid frame to support the bird netting around my own fruiting figs. Right now the netting is just sort of loosely over them and I've noticed the birds just landing on the trees through the netting. I've been meaning to stretch the netting over a more rigid boxy framework like what you've described, just need to find the time!

At least one bird found a way inside through an opening I didn't secure, but then the cat was right there waiting for it... She sleeps away most of the day though, so I can't count on her to guard the figs all the time!

[Taverna78]

It depend on if you want fruit unharmed or people opinion on looks but in past we hang Compsct disk from tree. It reflect light bird hate. See tis

http://www.greeneggsandgoats.com/2014/03/how-to-keep-birds-off-fruit-trees.html

[Inkfin]

Tried it, doesn't work for evil Mocking birds!! They think it is just a toy!

[Taverna78]

I am happy we don't have fig eating bird here. We do have stupid rabbit tho

[drivewayfarmer]

I had great luck last season with something Bob Harper told me about.
Clear ,32 ounce plastic cups sliced lengthwise almost to the bottom, then slid over the branch and fruit.
Pretty fast to apply and fit most situations , placed so they protected the fruit from rain and deep enough birds couldn't easily reach the fruit.
Not sure if clear is important , but may aid ripening in cool NH.

[newnandawg]

Kerry, thanks for that tip. I will give it a try.

Long time no see.

[don_sanders]

A cat huh? Here's my killer on duty. Note the five skunks walking by in the second pic. I don't think she has ever scared or caught anything. It's a good thing she's cute.

[Sarahkt]

Don, it's probably for the best she didn't try to tangle with them! She, and then you, would only have regretted it.

[Rui]

Don, it's your fault for raising her to be too sweet

There is an orange ghost, a one-eyed spirit, a patient hunter that I've watched many times on the meadow.
He is a master.
Like the foxes in the nature shows, I've seen him jump up, dive head first into snow, and come up with a vole in his mouth.
I don't know if he belongs to anyone, but I'm certainly grateful for his presence.
He must have decimated the chipmunk population in the neighborhood- I haven't even netted my strawberry patch this year.
Outdoor / feral cats are supposed to be a huge threat to song bird populations, but man, oh man!

[mountainfigs]

Once cats realized that plain cat food in a bag tastes better than a bloody old mouse, the gig was up. Plus, bugs and worms are more fun to track. Actually, our two cats aren't quite that tame but when the blue jays are swooping, the small one doesn't dare leave the porch or leave shelter if pinned down in the yard.