Songbirds as Pests

Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about how to handle songbirds when they are pests. You cannot kill songbirds, so you have to discourage them. Songbirds can be a problem in the garden because they eat fruit. One thing you can do is plant enough for you and the birds. The only sure way to keep birds from your fruit is to use bird netting. If you have too large of an area to cover you can use frightening devices like propane cannons, plastic owls, mylar tape, a blaring radio, plastic snakes, or anything else that looks like a predator. With all of these things you need to change it up once in a while or the birds will figure out that it is fake. Nests are usually not a problem, but they can stop up your gutters and swallows can build mud nests on your house. This is where rubber snakes work best. If you place a rubber snake close to where the birds typically build their nests they will go elsewhere. You must discourage nesting before the birds arrive in the spring. Once there are eggs in the nest you can’t disturb them.

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Protect Strawberries from Birds
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Related Resources:
Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage: Birds
Controlling Birds Around Farm Buildings
Urban Pest Birds: Controlling Damage