working with nature

[Tartar Horde]

Like a lot of members on this site I enjoy growing Vegetables and fruit for the kitchen. Over the years my attitude to Birds has changed, specifically I found it a constant battle to protect my crops against them, forever shooing them off, and waking up in a morning listening for the dreaded Cooing of the local Wood Pigeons, who know exactly when the fruit is at its best
I have accepted now there is no way to stop birds from getting some of your fruit and veg, unless you totally enclose your growing area in cages etc. Rather than trying to fight the birds i have tried actually feeding them with a constant supply of food and water, leaving any damaged fruit out with bird seed. I have planted rows of Sunflowers that I allow to go to seed as another source of food for them. This approach seems to be working, even though I have more birds than ever visiting my garden. Giving the birds an easy meal, as opposed to one where they have to work for it concentrates them on the feeders rather than on your crops. Although I still get "edgy" when I see a Wood Pigeon land and make sure I keep my eyes on the Buggers