Robins and birdscare flash tape?

17 years ago

Hope I'm posting in the right forum. I normally don't consider birds as pests, but I do have a problem with robins.

This will be my third year having to deal with them. First year, I didn't know and a robin/some robins (not sure, they're solitary) sheared most of my seedlings off at the ground level and I had to replant the whole garden.

I then made criss cross strings of foil squares throughout the garden and had no more bird problems, but I don't know if it was because the robins were done for the spring, or because the foil really worked.

Last year, I used bird netting (vinyl) thinking it would be easier than the foil strings. NOT. It was a nightmare and I continually got tangled up in it. The foil was easier to deal with.

But since I don't really know if the foil worked or the robins were just done when I replanted, I'm asking for advice. It made no sense to me that robins would shear my plants off because they eat worms and such, but a nursery man told me they do it to gather stuff for their nests. Many of the plants they didn't even like, just sheared them and left the parts where they killed them.

So...I'm thinking of trying the birdscare tape (link below) just because it sounds easier than foil and perhaps might work a little better.

Does anyone here have any experience with robins like I've had and what has worked for you? Has anyone used the birdscare tape and/or foil on strings?

I've read Robins are especially difficult to scare off, but if I can avoid it, I'd rather not mess with that netting.

Thanks!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Birdscare tape

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
this post has been bothering me .. and i think i finally figured it out ...

don't waste your money ....

you want to change ma nature with few bucks of tape ... IT WONT WORK ... and there is a snake oil salesman around every corner willing to sell you a remedy ...

NOTHING is going to stop the neighborhood birds from coming only into your yard .. think about it ... it wont work ... and if you remove the robins ... something worse might replace it .... everything you remove from nature will be replaced ...

this isn't much different than another post that asked if she could train her cat to only kill voles ...

if you have a problem with seedlings.. then you need protection for the seedlings .. not to change the structure of nature ...

try a screened area ... bird netting... a simple leanto structure with common house screening.. cheap greenhouse .... etc ... there are a multitude of solutions to your problem from cheap to expensive .... but they all involve protecting your plants.. not changing the dynamic of nature ...

good luck!!!!

ken

PS: if you really believe you can alter nature .... i have a bridge over some swamp land that i would like to interest you in ... lol ...
julianna_il
Original Author
17 years ago
I'm not trying to get rid of the robins, just keep them out of my garden until their nest building is finished. It seems our schedules coincide. I want to plant my garden, they want to build nests.

I don't think the scare tape (or foil) is any different than using a scarecrow...you're just trying to keep critters out of the garden. And that's no more messing with mother nature than using netting.

But I guess I'll just use the netting and be safe, and complain about it. I'd hate to get the tape (which is only about five bucks) and then have it not work. Better safe than sorry.
Related Discussions
UPDATE: Victoriana Garden & Craft Robin is flying!
Q
Comments (59)
Yes! The box arrived yesterday and it is amazing! Everything is soooo beautiful. I took three pairs of earrings and a bookmark. I am adding a set of gold embossed gift tags, hand stamped and watercolor painted greeting cards, and 2 hand embroidered sachets. I will get it back in the mail and on it's way home on Monday! I'm so sorry I didn't post yesterday but my darling three year old daughter has the flu and I am busier than ever here. Don't worry LOL I didn't let her near the box and it should be germ free when it leaves our house. : ) I also took and then replaced six packs of seeds. What lovely seeds there are too! Thanks so much to everyone who worked on this robin. It's incredible! What a privilage it is to be a part of this swap! Hugs, Stephanie
...See More
robins, ants and rabbits
Q
Comments (8)
Hi, I have a similar situation with my bluejays and cardinals. They love to perch on the stakes im using for the tomatoes. Since my tomatoes are still green, I haven't had any problems, but once they turn color, it may be a problem. I dont want to cover them because I have them on my front yard, and I dont think my husband would appreciate a tent by the front door. Do you think, that since we had so much rain, they should have plenty to eat and drink and they should not become a pest? Maria
...See More
Food Photo Tips: Part I - Lighting
Q
Comments (18)
Sharon, I am trying to fathom quail eggs for a reasonable price. I am lucky to be able to get them for free, I have seen them for sale for more then $1 a piece. They are a convenient size when baking as well when you think a recipe would benefit form a little more egg. I am sure all of the topics will help me and be of interest. I struggle with both those topics. Especially the artificial lights in the winter as al our meals are after dark. I am using a DSLR that my DH recently got me and these still apply. -Robin
...See More
I Cottaged Up the Joint (pics)
Q
Comments (24)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! Between your responses & the 'Show Me Something Ugly' thread I'm having some great feel good moments! Usually I'm not a cottage type of person but this seems to be just the right amount of it for me. I do tend to lean more towards a masculine, dark, den-like interior but this is a really nice change for the warm season. I can't believe how much lighter the rm. feels. DH even commented on it. Kim & Teacats - I could get absolutely lost in that artwork. Remember when you were a kid & you could stare at a painting forever weaving a story in your head about being in the picture? That's how I felt looking through them. Parma - Paris is on the floor in my hallway looking for a ticket out! Tina - I'm really looking forward to checking out those sites - thank you! I really like the idea of a mini-check pillow & will keep my eyes open for some. Bungalow House - were you the one that rents & bought a dark leather chair that you weren't thrilled w/ in the end because you couldn't quite make it cottagey in feel? If that was you I hope this helps. I was thinking of that person while doing this. I moved the darker olive curtains to the office/ play space across the entry hall from the LR. It seems to have worked really well as there is now the same green color flow from rm. to rm. but w/ a different intensity so I am very pleased at that happy accident. I picked out an olive green wide stripe wallpaper for the upper 1/2 of the vestibule walls so when you walk in you'll see the lighter green walls of the LR to one side of the entry & the darker green curtains & off-white walls of the office to the other side of the entry. Des - the light curtains are from IKEA & were about $25 per pair & are 118" I believe. They come w/ their own hem tape. I need 108" also & I won't spend $100's of dollars on window treatments for a home that I'm not staying in. I think that I'll leave the B&W's where they are. DH's grandfather did the pic of the bird over the desk so if I rummage around my in-laws attic I may be able to find something of similar size to put on the blank wall.
...See More
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
link is for crop protection ... reemay might be what you need .... hopefully you can locate a piece smaller than 67 by 100 feet.. lol ....

the other option at this location is shade cloth .....

i have solved many a problem by calling this place [ i love 800 numbers]... they are in piqua OH ... and i think its a family run operation.. just nice people ... and i wouldnt be surprised if they will make pieces to your needs... reducing cost ...

and it will probably last for a century or two.. if you take care of it ...

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: a. m. leonard
Kairi Gainsborough
6 years ago
I've also heard that shiny surfaces will scare away birds. I'm trying to keep the woodpeckers away from my house, so I've been thinking about trying something similar. Like you, I wouldn't consider birds to be a pest, but it is different when they become destructive like your robins have. Instead of tape, I want to find a more permanent, humane deterrent for my property. http://blunderbird.com

Robins and birdscare flash tape?

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

julianna_il
Original Author

Related Discussions

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Kairi Gainsborough

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Robins and birdscare flash tape?

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

julianna_ilOriginal Author

Related Discussions

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Kairi Gainsborough

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

julianna_il
Original Author