The sweet, ripening fruit of a cherry tree is a prized target for many species of birds, which can quickly consume an entire harvest before it is ready for human picking. Cherry growers must protect their valuable crop as soon as the fruit begins to show color. Finding effective and humane methods to safeguard the cherries is paramount for a successful harvest. The most successful strategies rely on a combination of physical barriers and sensory deterrents, applied with precise timing to maximize their effect.
Physical Exclusion Methods
Physical barriers offer the most reliable form of protection because they directly block access to the fruit. Bird netting is the standard tool, but proper selection and installation are paramount to success and safety. The mesh size is a significant detail; a large, flexible mesh can entangle birds. A stiff, finer mesh (around 0.5 to 1 inch) or a very fine mesh (less than 5 millimeters) prevents entanglement while still excluding pests.
Draping the net directly over the tree is common, but it can weigh down branches and allow birds to peck fruit touching the netting. A more effective approach involves building a simple frame or cage structure using PVC or wooden stakes. This suspends the netting above and away from the canopy, preventing fruit damage. The net can then be easily secured at the base of the trunk, eliminating entry points from below.
For smaller trees or individual clusters of fruit, breathable mesh bags are a labor-intensive but highly effective alternative. These lightweight bags, often made of fine organza or nylon, are placed over developing fruit and secured with a drawstring. This technique provides protection from birds and insects while still allowing sunlight and air to reach the fruit for proper ripening. This method guarantees protection for the specific fruit it covers, which is helpful for high-value or smaller-scale harvests.
Visual and Auditory Deterrents
Methods relying on startling or disorienting birds with sight and sound can supplement physical exclusion, though they require active management. Holographic or iridescent flash tape utilizes the bird’s strong sense of sight, reflecting sunlight in chaotic, multi-colored patterns that birds find confusing. When these strips are hung in the tree, they also produce a subtle crackling sound as they move in the breeze, adding an auditory deterrent to the visual effect.
Other visual deterrents include shiny objects like old CDs, aluminum pie tins, or specialized scare-eye balloons suspended from branches. These items rely on movement and reflection to simulate a threat or create a visual distraction zone. The effectiveness of visual deterrents depends on their novelty, as birds quickly learn that a stationary or predictable object poses no real danger.
To maintain effectiveness, deterrent items must be moved frequently, perhaps every few days, to a new location within the tree. This prevents birds from acclimatizing to the reflective objects, keeping their perception of a threat active. Combining a visual deterrent with a sound device, such as one that broadcasts distress calls or predator sounds intermittently, can further boost the protective effect by engaging multiple senses.
Timing and Application Best Practices
The success of any bird exclusion strategy is tied to the precise timing of application. Cherries become attractive to birds as they begin veraison—the process when the fruit first starts to change color from green to red or yellow. Applying protection during this critical window ensures the harvest is secured before the birds establish a feeding pattern.
Applying visual and auditory deterrents too early risks the birds becoming comfortable with them before the fruit is ripe, rendering the methods ineffective when needed. Netting, however, can be installed slightly earlier, after the flowers have dropped and tiny green fruits are visible. This early installation is beneficial because it is easier to handle the netting before the tree is heavy with fruit.
Pruning the cherry tree to a manageable height, ideally no more than 12 feet, simplifies applying and securing netting. Once netting is in place, it should be checked daily for any trapped birds or other wildlife, which must be safely released. Netting should be removed immediately after the harvest is complete to prevent damage to the tree’s branches and reduce the risk of wildlife entanglement during the off-season.