Although most birds migrate south for the winter, farmers aren’t completely off the hook. Some birds stick around in the winter to save their energy, protect their current territory or nurture their young. With birds sticking around in colder weather, they must seek out food in order to survive.
In the winter months, common food sources for birds include:
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Insects
- Sap
- Grain
- Fruit
With fruit on this list, it’s important to protect your crops. Here are some tips for protecting cold weather fruit crops from birds.
Fight Frost
There are multiple things you can do to protect your fruit crops from birds. First, outside of birds, it’s also important to consider frost. In colder months, frost can cause damage to crops. To avoid this, consider row covers, bedsheets, or medium-weight fabric. These soft materials can protect plants from frost and birds without harming them. If creating your own, avoid using plastic for the best results.
Cold frames are another option to protect crops from the cold. Cold frames are a transparent covering for plants that allows sunlight in but not the harsh temperatures outside. This structure surrounding the fruit can also be a barrier to hungry birds.
Alternative Food Source
During colder months, it’s harder for birds to find food. To help feed them without harming your crop, try putting out bird feeders.
However, keep the feeders far away from the crop you are aiming to protect. Ideally, this will give the birds what they need, so they don’t decide to feast on your plants. There is no guarantee this will protect your crops, but it is a helpful way to feed birds in the winter.
Easy Fixes
Scaring birds away from your fruit crops can be done in multiple ways. Some easy fixes include:
- Shiny objects – Hang old CDs, aluminum foil, or reflective tape to scare off birds.
- Statues of predators – Make your space look claimed with a decoy such as an owl.
- Distress calls – Sound deterrents and other audio distractions can keep birds away.
- Physical barriers – Bird netting, chicken wire, or plastic spikes will keep birds off your space.
Related: How To Scare Birds Away
Liquid Bird Repellent
While the above tricks may keep birds away for a short period of time, a bird repellent spray will yield better results for a longer amount of time. With so many bird repellents available, it’s important to consider what will really keep the birds away.
A good bird repellent should:
- Be EPA-registered to ensure the safety of the birds, other animals, and people.
- Cover many different types of birds to get the best results.
- Have different application techniques.
- Be effective for long periods of time, even after the spray has faded away.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Homemade Bird Repellent
How Avian Can Help
For all the qualities listed above, try Avian Control! Avian Control is not only the easiest product to use, but it really works. Contact Avian Control today at 888.868.1982 to get the best bird repellent to use on your yard, field, or commercial property during colder months.
Protecting Cold Weather Fruit Crops From Birds