That depends on what your idea of humane and ugly is.

I hung rubber (dollar store) snakes in my trees.
Motion sensor sprinklers work until they get used to them.

I just read an article that suggested using a spool of black thread and tossing it back and forth across the tree/shrub and although nearly invisible, really frustrates and deters birds...it's squirrels that stumps me. Best of luck.

CD's ! Personally, I am not crazy about the thread idea. There is a danger of harm to the birds. And tin can tops would hopefully not be the sharp ones. Sorry to be so specific - but so important to be careful about the life around us. CD's are great - especially the ones you get for free in the mail. Hang them up, they reflect the light like the tin can tops, have a hole in them already. Good luck!

heres one for the currants, (and anything else with a small bush and berry). go to the craft store and get some beads of similar size and color of the ripe fruit. make little wire hooks kindof like earrings, hang them in the bush as the fruit starts to turn but before it is ripe. the birds will come to eat them, after pecking at the beads for a while, the realize that the "fruit" aint no good, and leave the crop alone

Mardi Gras Beads have been known to deter birds

I attach two aluminum pie trays to string and hang them from the branches.

I've tried rubber snakes, real looking owls, the birds just get used to all of them unless you keep moving them every few days. I think I will try the CDs this year- let the wind move them around for me.

I know alot of people around here use CD's.

The thread is a very dangerous idea. Birds can get tangled in it.

I used to raise finches, one got a thread out of the sheet that was covering her cage to add to her nest, it ended up around her ankle, because she was on eggs,I didn't see it till it was too late. She lost her foot due to the circulation being cut off.

So please,no string/thread...

I used bird netting in the past for my strawberries, it's grey, (or at least the one I got at home depot was) so it did't stand out too bad.

JoJo

CDs don't work on my birds. I've watched them sitting among the currants with CDs flashing all around and totally unfazed. And I wouldn't use the thread after seeing birds, particularly pigeons, with their feet deformed by tangled thread. Netting needs to be used carefully. I have found a wing caught in netting with no sign of the bird - which means the bird tore off its own wing trying to escape. Old net curtains work on low berry bushes. Otherwise a fruit cage is the most reliable - and most expensive - solution.

Bird didn't tear the wing off - the cat / raccoon that ate the bird did. No bird problem but the squirrels harvest all the medlars and pears just before they are ready to harvest.

Well, deer don't like soap, and I just read yesterday that pigeons will NOT visit a balcony sprayed with WD-40. I don't know if it works or not, but I'm going to tie some WD-40 soaked green rags near my figs to see if the birds will stay away. Evidently they don't like the smell.

Aren't oil soaked rags a combustion danger?

I have found best deterrent of all to be owning a cat. She can't catch the squirrels or birds, but she sure does worry the heck out of them; enough to keep them away. Our property is fenced in. She stays in her yard. But I've noticed that the birds and squirrels now stay on the OTHER side of the fence.
All it costs me is catfood.

CDs worked for my 10-yr-old daughter to protect her strawberries. She strung a string around the perimeter with a couple CDS and come windchimes. The birds didn't get used to it. They'd reappear, get scared again and leave. My neighbor uses them on the ends of her clothesline to keep birds away from her freshly washed clothing. I know, I know...what's a clothesline?!?

Another cheap solution is to feed the birds something else. We have a bread store where you can buy 4 loaves of bread for $2. Feed the birds, get them full and they won't care about "the good stuff" you're trying to protect. Choose a location away from whatever it is you're saving and be consistent enough that the birds "hang out" in that location, revisit it, etc.

All critters just become accustomed to any of the scare tactics, eventually, except exclusion. Therefore, netting is still the most surefire way to protect things from birds. It is hardly visible, and if stretched taught all around, will not entangle birds.

Along the lines of xiangirl's advice, planting something inedible to you but prized by birds will take the pressure off your goodies. Of course it has to fruit at the same time as what you're trying to protect. Mulberries work great since they are always at the top of the birds list, and some types fruit alongside cherries.

Like the CD idea and I have lots of them, but my main issue is I have a large acacia tree and I live in a conservation area so it cannot be cut down!!! But all the pigeons in the county where I live perch on the branches and poop all over my patio, walk way and new garden furniture. I am really worried as I have a four year old boy and their poop is supposed to be dangerous if ingested or touched!!! Please help :-{

Ps. We moved 1 year ago! so that option is out! as my husband vows never to move house again! stressful!

Here is a device that costs less than $70. http://www.whirlybirdrepeller.com/ My son is in pest control and has used this product successfully for local businesses.

"Aren't oil soaked rags a combustion danger?"

Only is areas with stagnant air where fumes accumulate.

I keep my tree small enough that I can cover it with black bird netting. A hassle to put on and take off but worth the effort.

I also have yellow Rainier cherries. Apparently most of the birds wait for red fruit and rarely touch the ones on my trees.

I had a fruit tree and it made so many nice fruit and every year these colorfull birds come and eat the whole fruit they pick on every fruut and not one bird about 8 of them, so i was angry over this every year the tock up but dis year i chopped and pulled the tree no more fruit, now there at the back i cant win.

I hope there was some other reason to chop down the tree other than to spite the birds. They will always win.

I haven't personally tried them but organza bags are supposed to be effective. Apparently fastening them around the fruit and anchoring them to the branch is an effective approach. In reference to aesthetics I have seen quite a few of them fastened in trees and it seemed to me to be acceptable. Obviously, that side of it is subjective:)

Bags are OK for single large fruit but not a practical option for cherries or berries which the original questioner mentioned.

Damn neighbor is feeding sparrows!