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Fruit & Orchards

Birds got all my cherries this year. Why

Granite City Services

6 years ago

I have about 25 montmorency cherry trees in their 4th year. Got a good yield of fruit last this and was looking forward to even more this year. All my trees have been stripped clean; only the pits are left.

What changed from last year when there was no noticable loss to birds to this year when they took everything ... and what can I do to prevent the same thing next year? D@mn birds!

thx in advance for advice.

Mark in MN

ps. probably not relevant but in case it is I also have about 150 other trees, mostly apple with a few plum and pear.

Featured Answer

Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Hopefully it will get better when trees mature and allot more fruits to share...else, you need to net them. Usually sour cherries are not so much targeted by birds but it can change from year to year. Sometimes, I've seen it, Cedar Waxwings will eat them half green!

Depend also what other fruit sources is around for them. Now, here the Saskatoon's are ripening and birds go for these first.

Cedar Waxings eating Evans cherries.

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Comments (6)

eastmeetwest
6 years ago
Netting is the only effective way. People have tried all kinds of bird scare. It usually works temporarily. Also, timing of putting up those bird scare items ( dancing tall man balloon, bird scare tapes, shiny objects, fake owls, fake snakes) is important.

Quality nettings like those offered by American nettings company, is expensive. Not sure you want to spend a lot of money to net all your cherry trees. You will have to produce more fruit than birds can take, unfortunately.
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Comments (5)
You have to be fanatical here. Most all of these diversions work, but only until the birds recognize them for what they are. Cannons may work for a week (or much less). Fake owls, snakes, aluminum pie plates, mylar strips, etc. the same way. Doesn't take them long to realize that the diversion really isn't a threat. If you rotate through a number of diversions fairly quickly, each new one will keep them away for a short time, but you have to be fanatical about doing it and switch tactics before they figure out they're being gamed. This might buy you some time to get the cherries closer to being ripe. The other solution is one of numbers. If you have more cherries than the birds can eat, you'll have some for yourself. Plant 30 acres of trees, or shoot every feather you see! I occasionally blow my stack after watching trees loaded with pie cherries turn yellow on the way to red and never get ripe enough to eat and put chicken wire or a net around a tree or part of a tree.
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My experience with sour cherries this year
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Comments (3)
It's so great to read about actual experiences after all the nursery catalog hype. Good going Katyajini. I am still waiting on my Surefire. It is about 3.5' tall now, and this is it's second year since planting. So maybe next year. But, I understand you. I tasted a beautiful looking sour cherry two days ago at the Farmer's market in Union Square and boy, was it sour.
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Now I know why all the birds were screeching!!
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Comments (13)
StP=I wouldn't stop feeding the birds. What happens with Mother nature, stays with Mother Nature. I have a red shouldered hawk in my neighboring empty lot. He sometimes wakes me with his call. Lately I hear my cardinal pair off it the same lot and they are avoiding the feeders because of the hawks presence. Still, when they can, in the evening they will manage to sneak over and chomp on some seeds. Hawks are amazing critters. I also have a pair of swallow tail kites that circulate regularily. Magnificent birds. The do keep the smaller birds at bay at times, but I love to watch them display their sailing ability.
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Birds got my goumi berries : (
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Comments (1)
Christie, this has been a strange year for fruit for me. My ancient apples tree that always blooms, had maybe 4; the cherry tree that is always loaded has very few; the peaches didn't even bloom nor did the apricot tree. I think maybe that warm period we got early and then the very cold killed the blooms before they even got good formed. Birds are a nuisance when it comes to fruit. We have a resident mocking bird that just hovers over the cherry tree. Normally there is enough for both of us.....not this year. She can have them all! Sorry you didn't get to even taste the goumis.
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emerogork
6 years ago
I have Rainier cherries. It seems that the birds do not know that they are ripe when yellow and might be waiting for then to redden. Up until this year, they rarely touched them.

I when I saw a cardinal in the tree, I decided to net everything. The trees are pruned to be low and wide to make for easy picking and now easy netting.

For harvesting, I rip open a section, reach in and harvest. I close up the hole with with "twisty things".

Aside from the mummies, I lost very few to critters.
jemmalix
6 years ago
Konrad, that bird picture is incredible, wow! Did you take it?
Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Yes...some years ago, Waxwings are going crazy on the honeyberries, they do take them green also! I covered them up with row cover about two weeks ago, also have some Saskatoon berries covered right now. This larger tree from a couple years back, this year I'll let the birds have it. If I want to pick allot, I know some places along river or lakes where one can pick allot.
emerogork
6 years ago
Netting or incredible nest of gypsy moth?

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