Animal
Birds
Various bird species that feed on fruit, seeds, seedlings, and soft growth; wood pigeons strip brassica leaves while smaller birds peck ripening fruit and freshly sown seed.
Symptoms to Look For
- Ripening fruit pecked open and hollowed out, particularly cherries, strawberries, and currants
- Brassica leaves stripped to the midrib by wood pigeons, especially in late autumn and winter
- Seed rows disappearing after sowing with no germination, or seedlings pulled out whole
Affected Plants
CherryStrawberryBlueberryCurrantGooseberryBrassicaLettucePeaCornSunflower
Organic Solutions
Netting
Drape or erect fine bird-proof netting (less than 25 mm mesh) over fruit cages, brassica beds, and newly sown rows as the only reliably effective protection.
Visual deterrents
Hang old CDs, foil strips, or proprietary bird scarers near fruit as a temporary deterrent, moving them every few days as birds habituate quickly.
Prevention
- Erect a permanent fruit cage with robust netting over soft fruit bushes and strawberry beds
- Cover brassica beds with netting from September through April when pigeon pressure is highest
- Sow seeds under cloches or fleece and leave in place until seedlings are established
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.