How we scared the thrushes away from the garden. How we scared the thrushes from the garden The cry of the kite to scare away the birds

Many summer residents know how much damage to the crop can be caused by seemingly harmless sparrows or rooks. Cherries, cherries, apricots and other fruits of the gardener's labors can be destroyed in a matter of minutes, and birds can also do a lot of trouble in the garden - for example, pulling up and pecking at seedlings. In this regard, information on how to scare away birds will be useful to many. There are many methods for scaring away birds, so everyone can choose the most suitable and effective way for themselves. Surely, among the most popular methods, many will remember a scarecrow or a rattle, some use rustling plastic bags, but in fact, the variety of bird scaring methods is very large. In this article, we will look at the most popular ways to preserve the crop.

There are the following methods of scaring away birds:

• Causing discomfort to birds (for example, ultrasound, flash lamps, pouring water, etc.);
• Reducing the quality of food (mordants);
• Designed to prevent birds from landing (barbed wire, spikes, nets);
• Imitating predators (stuffed animals, screams, flapping wings);
• Blocking places for nests (forming the crown of a tree, sealing gaps and niches);

Methods that cause discomfort in birds

Bright light is especially effective - for example, you can install a bright lamp that will periodically flash in different colors, or a laser machine that emits bright directional beams.

Birds also pay attention to bright, shiny and sparkling objects, avoiding them. So, shiny tapes or discs with a holographic surface can be hung on the crowns of trees, on the roofs of houses, and then the birds will avoid these places. Even tapes from old audio or video cassettes affect birds in a similar way. All these objects sway even from the slightest wind and also rustle, so they effectively scare away birds.

You can also use special ultrasonic installations that exclude the appearance of birds within a radius of 10-20 meters from them. But these devices also affect a person, so it is better to use them away from home.

An unusual method of scaring away birds is to release a powerful jet of water, triggered by a motion sensor signal. Thus, you can scare away not only birds, but also small animals.

There are also special odor repellents that act on birds (even despite their poorly developed sense of smell). The porous material is treated with a special substance, the smell of which is unpleasant for birds, and they begin to avoid these places.

Mordants for birds

There are special dressings that reduce the taste of food for birds, but are harmless to other animals. They process berries, fruits and even grass on gazans. This is especially convenient if there are free-range poultry (geese, ducks, etc.), and you need to protect berries in the garden or grass on the lawn from them.

Methods for preventing perching birds

Birds cannot fly all the time, and even the most restless of them sometimes needs to rest. When sitting down, the birds sleep, clean their feathers, rest, and observe the environment.

If you reduce the number of places for perching, then you can also completely get rid of the birds. To do this, there are various designs that prevent birds from sitting in convenient places.

Predator Simulation Methods

Often, various means imitating predators are used to scare away birds.

Nest blocking methods

All of the above methods may not be effective if the birds have already built a nest and chicks have appeared in it. If there is a need to scare away birds in a certain area, such as workshops, attics, sheds or certain trees, then it is better to use methods that prevent birds from nesting. Sparrows, pigeons love secluded places, so it is necessary to close all available slots and niches. Places through which birds can enter the attic or other rooms can be covered with nets. If they want to prevent crows from nesting on trees, they form crowns in such a way as to avoid convenient branches, or they use special bird glue on the branches to prevent them from planting.

In our organization, Mikhalych works as a truck driver - he is a master of his craft, a workaholic and a good friend of mine. He lives in his private house, in the suburbs. Like any decent owner of a private house, he has a garden, a vegetable garden and keeps some domestic animals. In Mikhalych's garden, among other things, several relatively young cherry trees grow, which began to bear fruit seven or eight years ago. However, for all this time, Mikhalych never managed to feast on his own cherries ...

The reason for this turned out to be cute, but extremely harmful birds - fieldfare thrushes. Having settled in the nearest forest belt, they became a real disaster for local gardeners, regularly raiding their gardens and pecking out more or less berries that had begun to ripen.

And he is!

For several years in a row, after his cherries began to bear fruit, Mikhalych alone unsuccessfully tried to resist this feathered misfortune; however, every year a flock of thrushes prevailed, almost completely depriving him of the crop. Therefore, when three years ago, brought to the "white heat" Mikhalych, in a conversation, complained about his "offenders", I simply could not leave a friend in trouble and agreed to give him all possible help.

The behavior of these birds seemed very unusual to us, completely different from that imagined by a layman who is far from ornithology. Much later, while studying this issue on some forum on the Internet, we came across a statement by our "colleague in misfortune", comparing a flock of these malware with an "organized criminal group (OCG)". In our experience, we have seen that it is impossible to characterize them more precisely. One got the impression that we were waging war not against some "mindless birds", but against "specific boys" from the 1990s - experienced warriors who were dismissed from the army and joined the ranks of all kinds of bandit groups.

At first glance, the tactics of these extremely intelligent birds seem almost unbelievable. First, one or two "reconnaissance aircraft" appear from the "main location" (i.e. forest belts), firstly, choosing the next "object of attack" (a bush or tree on which the largest number of very ripe berries hangs), secondly second, checking if there are any dangers on the way to the selected object. "Air reconnaissance" almost never fly directly to a chosen tree. Sitting down somewhere nearby (on the branches of neighboring trees, a fence, garden buildings), they carefully observe the surrounding area for several minutes. At this time, sometimes you can hear their "negotiations" - a short series of crackling sounds reminiscent of the cries of a magpie (only more melodic). After making sure that the chosen object of robbery is really worthy of their attention, and there are no signs of danger around it, the "scouts" silently fly back to the forest belt. A few minutes after they safely return to their relatives, from the forest belt quickly and silently - in the most bandit way - the whole flock flies to the explored place (in our case, a dozen and a half birds), after which they just as quickly and silently accepted for food.

It seems to be an idyllic landscape: a peaceful blue sky, beautiful white clouds...

But if you take a closer look, then here it is - ENEMY SCOUT!

The voracity of these birds breaks all records. It has long been known that all birds generally have a high metabolism (fast metabolism) - but, after observing the feasting thrushes, the thought involuntarily creeps into the head that there is a real nuclear reactor inside them. A dozen birds per day are quite capable of completely picking off a large fruit-bearing tree. At the same time, everything is done by them quickly and clearly - no noise, hubbub, fights and fluttering, which is typical, for example, of crows or jackdaws. The notorious advice of some gardeners who do not encounter thrushes in their backyard - "and you, they say, pick the berries as they ripen, and the thrushes will have nothing to eat" - even after a short acquaintance with these gluttons, it begins to seem not just naive, but mocking. Perfectly distinguishing colors and being naturally very smart, thrushes perfectly understand which berries in front of them are ripe or not very ripe. First of all, don't be fools, they peck out the most ripe, ending the feast with fruits of medium ripeness. And if we take into account the almost constant presence of their "scouts" in the garden and regular raids four or five times an hour, it becomes clear that they simply do not leave the gardener a single chance to get ahead.

For the first time, we tried to drive these annoying birds away from the Mikhalychev Garden in the summer of 2014. Having no previous experience in fighting thrushes and not suspecting their overwhelming arrogance, we, of course, started with the simplest - "classic" ways to scare away birds - stuffed animals, turntables, balloons and CDs. How deeply we were mistaken, seriously counting on these "means"!

First of all, Mikhalych made an attempt to make a stuffed animal from a set of stakes, rails, a bag of sawdust, an old dressing gown and a hat - successful in terms of results (the stuffed animal succeeded), but absolutely useless in essence (it did not help). On the first day after the installation of the effigy, the "scouts" of the thrushes were really afraid to approach the trees, under which stood something resembling a person. According to the household members of Mikhalych, their alarming chatter was constantly heard. However, the next morning, the damage done to the cherry was evident.

Our response was to visit the local "FixPrice" store, which sells cheap Chinese consumer goods, and purchase several windmills made of colored film, which were fixed to the fence and driven into the ground around the cherries. The second attempt ended in an even greater failure than the first - the feathered insolent people stopped paying attention to the flickering nonsense by the end of the first day.

After that, several days were spent on experiments with balloons, which also did not end in anything worthwhile. The thrushes reacted to the balls fixed in place of the windmills in the same way as they did to the windmills - that is, in no way, and when fixing the balls directly on the cherry branches, it was found that under the influence of even weak gusts of wind, the balls prick into small twigs and knots, therefore " project" was curtailed by the authors themselves.

A very popular “advice” on the Internet was the recommendation to hang computer CDs on the branches of trees protected from birds, unlike balls that are not afraid of pins on branches, rotating on a suspension even from a light breeze and at the same time letting out bright sun glare in all directions. No sooner said than done! The next day, upon arrival at work, I carried out an audit in a box with CDs, as a result of which two dozen useless branded disks with Kaspersky Anti-Virus were found from "boxed versions" once purchased for the entire office. The disks were handed to Mikhalych with a recommendation to hang them up so that nothing interferes with their rotation... It was one of those rare cases when even the vaunted "Kaspersky" turned out to be absolutely powerless against a new variety of "feathered viruses".

Another "recipe" for scaring away birds was gleaned from the magazine "My Beautiful Dacha", which consists in fixing children's soft toys on the branches of trees, which, according to the author of the article, were supposed to remind birds of cats lurking on a tree. Somewhere in the attic, Mikhalych managed to find several old soft toys left by his grown granddaughter - a small brown bear, a hare and someone else. But either these smart thrushes can distinguish between animal species, or they instinctively distinguish living objects from non-living ones, but this method also did not bring any useful effect.

In the "Gardener-Ogorodnik" store, as the most effective means for protecting fruits from damage by birds, we were recommended a special fine-mesh net made of synthetic threads. After some deliberation, it was decided to purchase a roll of net and see how it performs. Perhaps such a network could be a solution to the problem, if not for two shortcomings of its application, identified during the "field tests". Firstly, in order to provide at least some effective protection, the network needs not just a lot, but a lot - that is, the trees must be wrapped with it, as they say, "under the root". In the case of a simple attack on a tree from top to side, our feathered intellectuals, after several unsuccessful attempts to get to the ripening berries in the usual way, learned to very deftly crawl under the net from below. Secondly, the net poses a danger to various bird trifles like sparrows, wagtails, flycatchers and the like, either not causing any harm to fruit trees at all, or causing the most minimal. Having become accustomed to "snooping" in the crowns of trees, small fry get entangled in the cells of the net and die. After extracting the third or fourth hangman from the interweaving of synthetic threads, Mikhalych felt sorry for them so much that, waving his hand at the cherry, he simply took off the net.

It goes without saying that while we were inventing all these tricks for the thrushes, the birds did not waste time in vain and were closely engaged in our cherries. Thus, by the end of the safety net test, we had lost the battle for the harvest 5:0 in favor of the thrushes in the first season. It became clear that, in the language of professional military theorists, "remaining within the framework of an outdated concept, we will never be able to defeat the enemy." And in general, the twenty-first century is in the yard - what scarecrows, what are you talking about ?! You give the use of the latest tools from the sphere of "high technologies"!

Starting from the first days of June of the next year, 2015, Mikhalych and I, having learned from bitter experience, came to grips with the study of various technical devices specially designed to scare away birds. After a couple of days of surfing the Internet in my free time, it became clear that, if we do not take into account the anti-additive devices that are meaningless in our conditions (it's like wrapping a tree with barbed wire) and various extreme options like a metal mesh, to which a current of several thousand volts is connected, then almost 95% of the market for such devices is made up of electronic sound bird repellers.

The choice of repeller models is the most diverse, as they say, "for every taste and color" - from a cheap (relatively) Chinese "noname" for 5 thousand rubles, which, according to the instructions, continuously emits ultrasound, to "professional" devices with motion sensors costing about 25 thousand rubles. Of course, I am not a professional ornithologist and do not pretend to be the ultimate truth, but the very principle of scaring away birds with ultrasound caused me great doubts. From everything that I have ever heard or read, we can conclude that, according to their "technical characteristics", the organs of perception of a person are much closer to birds than to mammals. And in humans, as you know, ultrasound does not cause any discomfort. Therefore, I considered that spending even 5 thousand rubles on the purchase of a device whose effectiveness reviews are absent, and the result of the application is guesswork, does not make sense. Here it’s not even a matter of whether it’s a lot or a little - the five thousand requested for the device - but that with this money our Mikhalych can easily buy a few buckets of cherries for himself, while not bothering with its protection at all. But buying cherries when there are plenty of them in your own garden, recognizing the victory of small feathered pests, is already too much. Looking further, just out of interest, without any hope of application, options for various repellers, I came across a professional model that scares away birds with the cries of other birds of prey.

But this is an idea! Could it be that these thrushes were not afraid of anyone or anything at all? And who in natural conditions is the most terrible enemy for them? Obviously, any large birds of prey they know, the fear of which is programmed at the level of instincts... some device that will simulate the presence of nearby predators; at the same time, it is highly desirable that it be as cheap as possible - or, ideally, free of charge at all.

Having strained my memory a little, I decided that, perhaps, I could find such a device, and went down to the basement - to the warehouse. After rummaging around a bit, I found an old, decommissioned laptop "Toshiba Satellite A40" from a dense 2002 release. For lovers of details, I can report that this miracle is equipped with a 15-inch screen, a Pentium 4 processor with a frequency of 2.4GHz, 256MB of RAM and a 40GB hard drive. The preinstalled operating system is Windows XP Home. Oddly enough, the “machine” turned out to be on the move, which, however, I expected - after all, it was written off, apparently, not because of moral obsolescence or technical wear and tear, but because of the most typical damage for laptops - a cracked screen. The previous owner of the laptop probably dropped it off the table, so about a third of the screen surface adjacent to the upper right corner was a solid black "blot". Of course, after that, you can safely forget not only about the convenience of work, but also about its very possibility on such a laptop. Well, it doesn't bother us at all.

You can see a large black spot (damage to the matrix) of the laptop screen with rays of cracks radiating from it.

Now it was necessary to decide by what criteria the laptop should "voice". On the websites of specialized companies that protect such large objects from birds as airfields / railway stations / stadiums, it is very often stated that the startling sounds should be given randomly so that the frightened birds do not develop habituation to evenly given signals. To be honest, I was already going to "cook up on my knee" a primitive program based on a random number generator; however, an evening visit to Mikhalych, followed by observation of his "wards", forced him to abandon this idea. The fact is that the above method is justified only if the birds live in a protected area. Our thrushes, on the other hand, only quickly visit the garden for feeding, therefore, if the random number generator initiates the second signal forty minutes after the first, the birds will have time to check all the trees, choose the most ripe berries and calmly leave the garden during this time. Given the frequency with which their "scouts" appear in the garden, it became clear that it was simply useless to talk about time intervals exceeding ten minutes.

On other sites, there were descriptions of repeller models equipped with motion sensors. The idea, of course, is very sensible (why yell constantly if you can give a signal only at the moment of the immediate appearance of feathered robbers?), But in our case it is very difficult to implement, as they say, "on the knee", since to connect the motion sensor to the laptop you will need both a specialized adapter and the corresponding software. However, for the sake of "sporting interest" we carried out a "draft version" of the experiment - without any connection to a laptop, purely in order to determine whether it makes sense to further develop this direction. At work, I borrowed an infrared motion sensor of the popular Camelion LX-39/Wh model (very mediocre, but, as they say, "the rich - the happy"). Based on this sensor, a simple circuit was assembled with a household electric bell as an actuating element. The purpose of the experiment was to find out if the motion sensor is suitable for possible further use in a bird scaring system. The results obtained were disappointing - on a sunny summer day, in the heat, the motion sensor, installed at a distance of three meters from the tree trunk, did not react at all to such small objects as birds landing on the crown. Its sensitivity improved as expected in the early morning and evening hours, as well as when the sensor was placed in the shade, but still remained within the "plus or minus bast shoes" range. It remains to be hoped that professional bird repellers are still equipped with much more sensitive motion sensors than a conventional, household "human" sensor. Detecting a mouse running across the floor, as mentioned in many reviews of IR motion sensors posted on the Internet, for the sensor we tested turned out to be unscience fiction - except perhaps in a cool dark basement, on a concrete floor and from a distance of one meter.

Thus, the simplest and most reliable option was to make the laptop constantly "voice" at a predetermined interval of several minutes. True, at the same time, the problem of the possible addiction of our experimental subjects to the same type of sounds remained. Considering that the period of the most active "defense" of the sweet cherry lasts a week and a half (maximum, taking into account bad weather - two), it was decided to be content with changing the sounds emitted by the laptop.

For this purpose, we will visit the electronic version of the guide to the birds of central Russia. [link, www.ornithologist.ru]

There are a large number of various bird identifiers on the network, however, the above one is valuable in that it is possible to download samples of the calls of the birds presented on it without problems. So, we are primarily interested in files with recordings of the voices of large and medium-sized daytime predators - hawks (goshawk and sparrowhawk), falcons (peregrine falcon and saker falcon, there is also the voice of a gyrfalcon, but this is a polar falcon, and we do not have it) , kites (black and red). "To the heap" you can add the voices of buzzards - common and buzzard. The rest of the "contingent" does not suit us - they are either too large (eagles), or, conversely, too small predators (kestrels, red-footed falcons, hobbies), or "specialists" in other game (harriers, ospreys, sea eagles).

We download mp3 files with the voices of the listed birds, giving them "meaningful" names in Latin - for example, Teterevjatnik.mp3 or Baloban.mp3, so as not to get confused in the future. We transfer them to some convenient place (I placed them directly "at the root" of the D :) logical drive. In the same place, we create ordinary text files according to the number of bird voices, rename them, for example, to bird_1 (2/3/...) and forcibly change the extension to cmd. Insert the following text into the files themselves:

ping 127.0.0.1 -n 338 >nul
start "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe" D:\Teterevjatnik.mp3
start D:\bird_2.cmd
exit

The meaning of this batch file is as follows: the computer is invited to ping the address 127.0.0.1 (i.e., itself), and after a period of 338 (-n 338) seconds (the standard ping is repeated every second in case of a response), play back using a standard media player mp3 file with the cry of a goshawk, simultaneously running the batch file bird_2.cmd for execution, and then exiting (meaning the work of the first batch file).

Where did the value of 338 seconds come from? This interval is 5 minutes x 60 seconds plus the length of the hawk call recording (38 seconds in my case). Of course, the duration of different records is also different, so in each file you should recalculate and record the appropriate value. If a virtual Saker Falcon cries for, say, 20 seconds, then in the corresponding batch file you should specify the value -n 320, etc. If you do not do this and set the same intervals, over time the recordings will be played closer and closer to each other. friend in time, and after a couple of hours, all your virtual predators will yell at the same time.

There can be any number of such files, the main thing is that there should be cyclicity; in other words, the last batch file must have a link to the first file. After that, it remains only to throw the shortcut of the first batch file (bird_1.cmd) into "Startup".

Practice has shown that the most effective sequence is: "goshawk - peregrine falcon - black kite - sparrowhawk - saker falcon - red kite" at intervals of 5 to 10 minutes.

While I was working on a laptop, Mikhalych attached to a wooden table, standing not far from the cherries, a "ground floor" under the tabletop, where he planned to install a laptop with a lid not completely lowered, and covered the tabletop with a packing film hanging around the edges.

Place for a laptop.

Laptop for testing.

So, thanks to our joint efforts, Mikhalych managed to harvest sweet cherries for the first time in the last seven years. After the cry of the hawk, which was heard from the laptop, the enemy scout considered it good to retire...

Various comments and clarifications that arose as a result of testing the laptop, as well as plans for the future.

• You should not set the maximum volume of the speakers in the audio system settings. The volume should be such that it can be heard within the protected object plus a few meters in each direction. If the volume is so high that the cries of predators will be heard by thrushes even in their permanent habitats, then they will still not abandon their nests because of this, but they will get used to the cries.
• It is also worthwhile to seriously approach the choice of the location of the laptop and the volume level of its speakers, so as not to injure poultry (chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, pigeons). If your own or neighbor's chickens hear the cries of feathered predators every 5-10 minutes, then they are guaranteed to have a "nervous" on the second day, and small chickens / ducklings can generally die of fright.
• If you see sparrows (and similar trifles) right next to a screaming laptop, do not jump to conclusions about the inefficiency of the system. To scare away such small fry, the voices of other predators (kestrels, falcons, hobby falcons, sparrow owls) are needed, since not a single self-respecting goshawk will chase such an insignificant and nimble prey.
• You can greatly increase the efficiency of the system if you manage to find not only the voices of predators, but also the alarm cries of the types of birds that you are going to scare away, and "dilute" your "concert" with them.
• Another idea is to use the laptop's built-in webcam as a motion sensor, but that's a work in progress.

Comments

I have not yet tested the effectiveness of the scare, I will start the experiment tomorrow

We forgot about one more (successful, judging by the feedback) experience set by Random Passers-by (see here, comment No. 24):

> [...] In my summer every year, crows (which are black) with their offspring on the high-voltage line got into the habit of sitting in the morning. [...] Here at 3 o'clock the sun rises and at half past four - at five they sit down on a support and start yelling. [...] I downloaded the calls of all kinds of birds of prey from the Internet and turned them on at 5 in the morning. Here, from the cries of the black kite, they crap themselves, they jumped down. And what do you think? So falcons or kites flew in and began to fuck crows and crows. They immediately hide in the bushes and bushes-bushes towards the forest, scattering bricks [...]

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Compliance with certain rules when running a household or maintaining retail space will avoid interest in him from birds. In grain barns, it is recommended to use bird-proof storage facilities, and on livestock farms, special drinkers and feeders should be used and keep order.

Plastic strips should be hung at the entrances to retail facilities, which completely close the opening from birds, allowing people with heavy bags and carts to move around. Also block ventilation and other entrances to the room, isolate roof structures and repair windows.

What birds are afraid of: an overview of the 7 best methods

If it is not possible to completely eliminate bird sightings, or if it is not economically feasible, try reducing the attractiveness of bird roosting and nesting sites. These methods are safe for humans, livestock, and non-target animals, but often cost a lot of money and time to set up, according to the Pennsylvania State College of Agricultural Sciences.

To counter the arrival or nesting, various physical barriers, such as spikes on cornices, nets that protect garden crops from being eaten, changing the angle of the slope of cornices and window sills. Spikes and netting will help in the fight against pigeons and larger birds, but small species will be able to settle between the spikes or crawl into the mesh cell. Also, plants or other attractive places and objects can be treated with a spray or gel that has an unpleasant odor or irritates their mucous membranes. Having received a negative experience, a flock or an individual decides to leave the place.

To get rid of all types of birds, scientists advise resorting to deterrent methods, and it is desirable to alternate or combine them. The easiest option is to use dummies and scarecrows in the form of birds of prey or even in the form of eyes. Scientists approve the use of reflective devices: tapes, rails, disks. This method is considered one of the most common. But there are nuances: pests quickly get used to such items. And in windless gloomy weather, when the reflectors do not swing and do not make noise, there is little sense from them.

Stores also sell electronic repellents. Some - acoustic - act by ear. Another type is water repellers with a motion sensor, which release a jet of water towards the intruder. If the method with water is not in doubt, then with ultrasound the question is not so clear. Despite the fact that there are also positive reviews for such repellers, there are still more negative ones. Yes, and scientists doubt their effectiveness as an independent method. So, experts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln state: “Acoustic devices by themselves are not effective against birds or are only effective for a short time. To be useful in such a matter, acoustic devices must be used in conjunction with other control methods. Their most effective use is possible when additional measures are applied, leading to the death or painful experience of some members of the population or pack ... ”.

Among other repellents that affect hearing, scientists distinguish programmable sound repellers. They record the voices of birds of prey that scare away different types of birds. Such devices can even be configured to scare away specific species: pigeons, sparrows, and so on.

Chemical Methods

Chemical compounds are used not only to scare away the bird, but also to “confuse” it. For this, substances with tannins that prevent rapid digestion, viscous and sticky compounds that complicate food intake or masking substances that make fruits or cereals invisible are used. According to the principle of action on the body, Michael L. Avery from the University of Nebraska divides compounds into two categories:

“Primary repellents cause pain or irritation on contact, and the bird reacts reflexively without expecting a response. Extensive research on the nature and characteristics of dozens of primary repellents leads researchers to conclude that the pain or irritation resulting from such contact provokes the avoidance response in birds. Many of these compounds are of ecological importance in terms of interactions between birds and their natural food, and one of the primary repellant compounds, methyl anthranilate, is registered as a bird deterrent. Many primary repellents are toxic, but because these compounds are disgusting in taste, birds will not be able to ingest enough of it to cause them real harm. Secondary repellents do not have a pronounced unpleasant taste, but cause illness or discomfort after ingestion”

The use of primary or secondary repellent depends on the lifestyle of the bird. If she lives settled nearby, a secondary repellant is more preferable. Primary repellant is suitable against nomadic species.

One such irritant is methyl anthranilate (MA), which is used in the food industry and is safe for humans. It acts on the nervous system as an irritant, due to which the bird loses its appetite. This drug is used to protect berry crops and control the behavior of geese. Anthraquinone, a secondary repellent that causes digestive discomfort, is sometimes used to protect seeds and turf. Subsequently, the individual develops a dislike for food similar to processed.

Another secondary action substance is methiocarb, which is designed against insects. For birds, the compound is not fatal and causes only vomiting and temporary paralysis. However, the substance is toxic and requires the correct dosage in order not to kill the birds. Among non-core compounds, it is also worth noting fungicides that inhibit the activity of birds.

Destruction of nests: how to get rid of a bird's nest

Techniques to reduce reproduction are permitted for some non-protected species, most notably sparrows, pigeons and starlings. Professor of Wildlife Resources at the Pennsylvania State College of Agricultural Sciences, Margaret C. Brittingham recommends making a long stick with a hook that can be used to periodically destroy nests. A more time-consuming and delicate way is to get to the nest and pierce the eggs with a pin. Since the birds will still hatch them, they will not start building new nests and laying new eggs.

Setting traps

Bird traps are designed in such a way as not to harm them and subsequently release them.

Lethal methods

There are very few species that are not protected in any way at the regional, state or international level. These are common pigeons, house sparrows and starlings. They are allowed to hunt and shoot where, in principle, shooting is allowed.

It is important to note that when using lethal methods, it is necessary to monitor the impact on non-target and protected species and limit the possibility of impact on them as much as possible.

Bird scaring in towns and villages

In the city and in the countryside, deterrence methods differ depending on the specific security measures, the extent of the problem, and the property being protected. Usually the species composition differs, which is determined by the lifestyle of the bird, the composition and availability of the food base for it.

Sparrows, pigeons and crows are most often found in the city, and seagulls are also found in coastal areas. Crows, gulls and pigeons rake up the garbage and scatter it. Sparrows can do much less harm, but they can sneak into warehouses and stores and spoil food. All of these species leave droppings on windowsills, under the eaves of houses, trees and various structures. In disadvantaged countries, they spread disease.

In the city, it is convenient to use methods of limited action, such as a gel or a water repeller that works on a small radius, as well as spikes.

Outside the city, the arsenal of ways to fight is expanding. Deterrent sprays are sprayed on fruit trees or large fields. More powerful water scarers, scarecrows, metal or plastic reflective tapes are hung near the house.

Comparative table of methods and repellers

TOP 17 Bird Repellers

We have written an overview of all types of repellers mentioned above. Choose exactly what is right for your situation and area - and the question "How to scare the birds?" will not occur again. The most affordable solutions cost as little as $10.

spikes

The easiest way to scare a bird away from the eaves of houses and fences is to install spikes. They sell good polycarbonate and metal spikes under the Bird-X brand. Both items are 10 feet long. They differ not only in material, but also in functional features.

plastic spikes branched and suitable for scaring away not only pigeons or crows, but also small species, such as sparrows. They are attached to the surface with glue, which is included in the package, and stand.

metal spikes do not have branches, so they are only suitable for countering large species like pigeons. They have a flexible base that allows you to attach spikes to uneven surfaces. Both items are highly acclaimed by customers.

Scarecrow

Birds are afraid of predators, so a very common method is to imitate the presence of a bird of prey nearby, for example, by reproducing the cry of a predator or by installing an appropriate figurine. If you don't know how to keep birds away from your porch or flower bed, the first thing to try is to install one.

Bird Blinder offers on Amazon life size owl figurine - Scarecrow Fake Owl Decoy for ~$15.95. It is convenient to fill it with sand for stability or place it on top of a pole or post. It should scare away birds and rodents and, judging by customer reviews, it does its job properly.

As an option - a more formidable predator Bird B Gone Hawk Decoy for ~$12.99. The principle of operation is the same, but, unlike Fake Owl, the reviews are far from being so unambiguous. One of the negative reviews is illustrated by a figurine of a hawk in a poultry house. From the photo it is obvious that the birds are not very afraid of the scarecrow. Users give the hawk a rating of only 3.4 stars out of 5.

Repellers-”eyes”

In this case, the task of intimidation was decided to be simplified as much as possible. Many animals, including birds, have an associative perception of visual information. Therefore, only some characteristic elements are used to intimidate, for example, the image of the eye, as in the product Scare Eye Balloon Bird Repellent for ~$15.90. Such a ball scares away visually also due to bright colors. Its swaying in the wind will also cause discomfort and a desire to fly away.

The set includes 3 inflatable balls with an ornament in the form of an eye, encircling the product. The ball can be used in two ways: hanging or throwing into the water in the pool - to protect against waterfowl. More than half of the buyers were satisfied with the product. Those who did not like the product complain about a short period of action, after which pigeons, sparrows and others get used to it and stop being afraid. But this is a common feature of all visual scarers. Scientists do not say anything about such newfangled repellers, but due to the availability, it should be given a chance.

Price from 225 rubles

Reflectors: pendants, discs and tape

One of the most common ways to keep birds away and one of the most budget friendly. Reflectors perform a double job: they blind with reflected light and additionally scare away with noise. In sunny windy weather, there is no better solution to protect windows and trees.

Bird Blinder Repellent Scare Rods is a set of 5 silver pendants made of shiny plastic. Reviews are mostly positive. Users agree that birds, if not completely disappear, but their number is reduced significantly. Although some buyers claim that pigeons ignore rods.

Made from stainless steel. This is a set of 8 shiny double discs. They not only blind with light, but also make more noise than plastic. The manufacturer claims that such pendants will work against woodpeckers, pigeons, sparrows, geese, ducks and rooks - users confirm.

Scare Tape

Reflective holographic tape looks aggressive to birds and, according to the manufacturer, repels any pests. A 150 foot skein costs only ~$11.59 and will last a long time. It is double-sided and you can fix the tape anywhere. This product is easy to use, effective and affordable for this, and users love it.

Price from 225 rubles.

Grid

Grid protects fruit and berry plantings from raids by flocks, without posing a danger to the birds themselves. Its size is 15 x 45 feet. According to reviews on Amazon, the mesh works well in most cases, but due to the size of the mesh, it is still more suitable for protecting against large species. And small species of birds may well stick their heads into the cell in search of berries.

Electronic repellers

As mentioned above, not all electronic repellers are equally effective against birds. Water repellers work - provided there is sufficient range. Acoustic repellers scientists advise to use together with other means. There are many popular electronic bird reflectors, which we will tell you about. Which one to choose is up to you.

Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler

Unlike the rest of the devices in this top, this repeller repels animals with water. If someone enters the sensor's 120-degree field of view up to 40 feet, a powerful jet of water is fired in the direction of the intruder. For better control, you should pre-install the sensor in the desired direction. The unit is battery operated. In general, users are satisfied with his work. “He shoots water so famously that you don’t even have to hit the animal to scare him away”. Users confirm: when there is an Orbit, bird excrement ceases to appear in the pool.

Price: ~$48.32

Bioacoustic repeller EcoSniper

This sound device is a device for recording the calls of wild birds of prey. He has both a general scare mode and special ones for different species. The manufacturer claims that it can be configured to scare away as many as 22 species: pigeons, crows, starlings, gulls, woodpeckers, etc. The repeller works from the network - the power of the speaker is enough for 1 hectare of area. There are 2 operating modes: day and night.

Bird-X Balcony Guard Ultrasonic Repeller

This ultrasonic repeller, according to the manufacturer, works in areas up to 900 square feet and is suitable for use on a balcony, terrace or porch. It is harmless to children and pets, but is it effective? Buyers do not doubt, the product has quite a lot of negative reviews. Separately, pigeons are mentioned, which are not afraid of the included device. Among the shortcomings, the audibility of squeaking by children is also called. But still every third was satisfied with the effect.

Price: ~$14.47

Hoont Powerful Solar Battery Powered Ultrasonic Outdoor Pest and Animal Repeller

This repellent is suitable for large spaces. It has 3 ultrasonic frequency settings. There is also an additional deterrent option - a flashing light. The sensor picks up movement at a distance of 30 feet. This all-weather device can be outdoors. Manufacturers note that it can be used not only against birds, but also in the fight against mammal pests, such as chipmunks. The product is generally highly appreciated by buyers. But the reviews regarding birds are not very positive.

Price: ~$74.85

Chemical repellents

The manufacturer called this gel “liquid spikes” for its use on cornices and window sills. He also advises using it on any ledges, signs, railings, roofs and other places where pests fly. Everything that the gel gets into becomes sticky and unpleasant to the touch. This property promises to repel many bird species, including pigeons, swallows, ducks, geese, gulls, sparrows, starlings, woodpeckers, crows and blackbirds, rooks, etc.

The gel retains its properties well in the open air and is completely transparent. It is non-toxic and does not harm buildings or animals - it is easy to wash off if necessary. Three tubes in the kit will make up to 30 feet of gel.

Price: ~$19.37 (3 tubes per set)

This repellent acts not only on touch, but also on smell and taste. Its active ingredients are rotten eggs, clove oil and garlic. Getting into the mouth of the pest, the active substances cause slight irritation of the mucous membranes. As a result, the animal has a desire to leave a potentially dangerous place. The spray is designed to repel birds and mammals.

There have been various reviews from buyers, including quite a few negative ones that note that the animals are returning in a couple of days. Those who fight birds note that he can even attract them. Try it out yourself to see if this is the case and see how effective it is.

Price: ~$13.95

It is a ready-to-use concentrate based on methyl anthranilate. This repellent is approved by scientists to control geese that eat berry crops. It discourages the appetite of birds, acting on the nervous system, and is safe for people. In addition to geese, the product is also designed for other waterfowl and large representatives living on the ground - ducks and turkeys.

The spray is economical: one quart of product is enough for 4,000 square feet. - The manufacturer advises using it on large areas. Safe to use even on fruit and berry trees and shrubs.

Price: ~$39.99 (1-quart)

Bird-X Bird Stop Liquid Deterrent

A gallon of this spray based on the same methyl anthranilate. The tool is designed for a large number of species of waterfowl and other birds that harm large fruit plantings, lawns or vegetable crops. Depending on the recommendations for use in various situations (see instructions), the liquid is diluted with different amounts of water.

So far, few people buy the product, and the rating is low. But individual users describe a positive experience of use. The guy who saved the blueberry bushes in the garden from the attacks of the flocks writes: “I applied this to my plants 3 times. Because of the rain, I had to redo the treatment. But after that, the attacks on my blueberries stopped.”. He also notes the high price, but adds that as long as it works, the price is justified. Yes, and buying a concentrate is still more profitable than ready-made products.

Price: ~$91.48

Comparison table of bird scarers

How to Keep Birds Away: 5 DIY Solutions

You can scare them away on your own, without buying special expensive tools. Below we have identified 5 maximum budget solutions that will save you from such unwanted neighbors. All you have to do is do a little digging in your closet or garage to find the right tools and fabric.

Close the doors to the house

Make a scarecrow

Since ancient times, people have been installing stuffed animals on their farms not only in the form of birds of prey, but also constructing “people” from improvised means. To do this, you can use wooden beams, a bucket, unnecessary pieces of fabric, etc. Unfortunately, such stuffed animals work for a relatively short time. Birds living nearby quickly get used to it and are no longer afraid.

Make your own rattle

To enhance the effect, you can hang rattling metal objects in pair with the scarecrow or make a weather vane that will crackle in the wind.

hang reflector

Another auxiliary element is reflective tapes and other similar items. Reflectors will blind all flyers and make frightening rustling sounds. Many craftsmen use ordinary foil for such a scare.

Watch out for birds nesting

Nests are interesting to watch, but if birds can cause harm to the household, it is better to take care that they do not breed in your neighborhood. To destroy nests, attach a hook to a long stick.