At 79 dollars apiece they not cheap but Guardian birdhouse is best I've found. Its small bird house in shape 2 light on each each side one flashes blue other flashes red ramdonily. Give bird the feeling they being watched. In daytime lights light flash is low in power at night more noticeable. mounting this up high be best for what you trying to do lets say half tree height. My sourse for this solarpowered bird guard was local feed and hardware store don't have online sourse. Birds stop visting area where one these are set up so take awhile to work. 6 months ago I check with some people that been using bird guard for 4 years they said worked for them. Animals and birds don't like to be watch.

Jen: I've never heard of anything that works, ugly or otherwise. Maybe gator rider is onto something but most people who've posted here and commercial growers find netting to be the only workable solution. I'd buy two of anything that would work. My money is in netting.

The Fruitnut

Border Collies are pretty cute--they use them at airports to keep birds away. :)

You could also try the Scarecrow--it's a motion-activated sprinkler you attach to your hose. You could stick it up in the tree.

Carla in Sac

...not a good idea to water spray ripening or ripe cherries, a small amount of water may split the fruit.

Gator, post more details about your device, web searches for Guardian birdhouse only show products that entice and protect birds, not repel them. Post a model number, patent number, etc.

G.Q.F. Manufacturing Co.
2343 Louisville Road (ZIP 31415)
p.o. Box 1552
Savannah, Ga. 31402-1552 U.S.A.
Phone 912-236-0651 Fax 912-234-9978
www.GQFmfg.com
No model number in info I have and will not repell song birds. Website does not show the Garden Guardian Birdhouse a phone to number above may help on song birds I don't no of any company in U.S. that would no more about repelling song birds Big Eye flags maybe only thing all blueberry growers use 4 wheeler and shotgun in front yard net best and keep dead birds out net.

Thanks gator rider! I was able to find a link to it.Looks like a good product.

http://www.gqfmfg.com/pdf/GardenGuardian.pdf

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Guardian

There you go, "Garden Guardian" item 9505.

I'm not sure why birds wouldn't become accustomed to flashing lights; some birds eventually ignore suspended discs, ribbons, etc. They do use visible lasers at airports to keep birds away from runways, though. They go along in vehicles and laser-zap the birds from a distance.

Big rubber snakes?

They sell a spinner at the dollar store that can be hung from the branches of trees that would probably scare birds away. I'm going to try them on my tomatoes this year. The best way to describe them is a two inch wide piece of translucent reflective plastic, about a foot long that has been twisted. They come in different colors and spin in the breeze. Just found some on Ebay. Here is a link. The ones at the dollar store are only a dollar.

Here is a link that might be useful: Spinners

There are the gypsy birds that fly in flocks and there are your on-site birds that may have nested in your yard for generations- even if they leave in winter. I bet my resident cat-birds and robins would not be intimidated by some lights and that they are most affective for the passing flocks. I have read that it is much harder to deter your local population that is already comfortable and instinctively connected to your land.