Growing plump, sweet blueberries is appealing, but birds are also keen enthusiasts. Species like robins, starlings, and mockingbirds view a bush laden with ripe berries as a perfect, high-energy food source. This conflict becomes most apparent just as the berries reach peak ripeness, the moment before the desired harvest. A single flock can descend and effectively strip an entire blueberry bush in a matter of hours, turning a season of patient cultivation into a complete loss. Protecting this valuable crop requires proactive intervention, moving beyond simple deterrents to reliable exclusion methods.
Preventing Access Through Physical Barriers
The most dependable strategy for securing a blueberry harvest is the physical exclusion of birds using specialized netting. Netting acts as an impenetrable shield, offering protection far more reliable than methods relying on scaring birds away. For effective use, the netting must be supported by a frame so it does not rest directly on the bushes. Draping the net allows birds to perch and peck fruit through the mesh, and risks entangling the plant’s delicate stems and ripe berry clusters during removal.
A temporary or permanent framework, often constructed from PVC piping or durable wooden posts, should fully enclose the bushes. This structure needs to be tall enough to accommodate the full height of the mature plants, which can easily exceed six feet, and allow the gardener access for picking. For optimal exclusion, the mesh size should be small enough to block small songbirds, typically one-half inch to three-quarters of an inch. This size prevents birds from passing through while permitting necessary airflow, sunlight, and rain to reach the bushes.
Proper installation requires extending the netting completely to the ground on all sides. The bottom edges must be secured to the soil using sod staples, landscaping pins, or by burying the material slightly. This anchoring step is important, as cunning birds will often tunnel under unsecured netting. The netting should be installed before the berries begin to show color change, preventing birds from developing a feeding habit in that location.
Scaring Birds Using Visual and Auditory Deterrents
Methods relying on sight or sound are generally less effective than physical barriers, but they offer supplemental protection in a comprehensive defense plan. Visual deterrents, such as strips of reflective holographic tape or mirrored scare-eye balloons, work by reflecting sunlight to create sudden, disorienting flashes of light and movement. These flashes mimic the unpredictable movement of a predator or a dangerous environment, which can temporarily frighten birds away from the immediate area.
Decoys that resemble natural predators, such as plastic owls, inflatable snakes, or hawk figures, can also be employed near bushes. However, birds are intelligent and quickly learn that these stationary threats pose no actual danger, leading to habituation. To counteract this tolerance, decoys must be moved frequently, ideally every few days, and their placement changed to maintain the illusion of an active threat. Pairing a visual deterrent with an element of movement or sound can increase its initial effectiveness.
Auditory deterrents, including devices that emit predator calls, bird distress signals, or sudden loud noises, are designed to create a sense of danger in the vicinity. While these devices can be effective in large agricultural settings, they are often impractical for residential areas due to the noise disturbance they create. Their effectiveness diminishes rapidly as birds become accustomed to the noise, requiring the sound to be perceived as a genuine threat.
Managing the Environment with Cultural Methods
Adjusting the growing environment and harvesting practices offers a subtle, indirect defense against bird damage. One strategy is to employ “decoy crops,” which involves planting alternative fruit sources that ripen earlier than the blueberries. Planting fruits like mulberries or serviceberries nearby may attract the attention of hungry birds first, diverting their feeding activity away from the less-ripe blueberries. This sacrificial planting essentially provides a buffer, though it cannot guarantee complete protection for the main crop.
Harvest timing is another cultural practice that reduces losses, as birds primarily target fruit that is fully ripe. Berries should be picked as soon as they reach their mature color and firmness, rather than waiting until they are fully soft. Since birds typically begin feeding at dawn, harvesting the ripe fruit early in the morning can secure the crop before the peak feeding hours begin. This prompt removal of ripe fruit reduces the visible reward for the birds, making the bushes a less attractive feeding location.
In addition to timing and decoy planting, the application of certain non-toxic, taste-based deterrents has shown some promise. For instance, a compound found in grape-flavored products, methyl anthranilate, has a taste that birds find highly unpleasant. Applying a diluted solution of this compound, or even a concentrated sucrose solution, to the bushes as the fruit begins to color can make the berries distasteful to the birds. This method requires reapplication after rain, but it encourages birds to seek food elsewhere without causing them harm.