Comments on: The Birds! http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/ An urban insurgent's guide to real food for life Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:22:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: maggie http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-2780 maggie Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:47:12 +0000 http://www.theslowcook.com/?p=1061#comment-2780 I would have said that they were perhaps looking for bugs on the plants. But you seem pretty pest free... Starlings are awful creatures (and I generally like feathered things). I've yet to see one at our farm. I keep my fingers crossed. The cds have worked great in our garden strung among the tomato stakes and hanging from the scarecrow. I would have said that they were perhaps looking for bugs on the plants. But you seem pretty pest free… Starlings are awful creatures (and I generally like feathered things). I’ve yet to see one at our farm. I keep my fingers crossed. The cds have worked great in our garden strung among the tomato stakes and hanging from the scarecrow.

]]> By: Ed Bruske http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-2775 Ed Bruske Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:24:31 +0000 http://www.theslowcook.com/?p=1061#comment-2775 Sylvie, the birds only attack the smaller plants. I've thought about covering them with Reemay, but keep hoping it won't happen again. I'll be better prepared with the fall crops. Grace, I thought about stringing some aluminum foil on the tomato cages. I like the idea of old CDs. Trying to think which ones I might use.... PP, no backup plan, other than the extra tomato plants I have growing in pots. I hope to give those away to a deserving gardener. El, I hope all that energy is going back to the roots. In fact I am leaving the de-nuded plants in place, confident that they will grow new leaves. It is frustrating when you've raised these plants from seed. Yes, a setback. But on the bright side, we don't need all the tomatoes yielding at the same time. It will do us good if some are a little delayed. Sylvie, the birds only attack the smaller plants. I’ve thought about covering them with Reemay, but keep hoping it won’t happen again. I’ll be better prepared with the fall crops.

Grace, I thought about stringing some aluminum foil on the tomato cages. I like the idea of old CDs. Trying to think which ones I might use….

PP, no backup plan, other than the extra tomato plants I have growing in pots. I hope to give those away to a deserving gardener.

El, I hope all that energy is going back to the roots. In fact I am leaving the de-nuded plants in place, confident that they will grow new leaves. It is frustrating when you’ve raised these plants from seed. Yes, a setback. But on the bright side, we don’t need all the tomatoes yielding at the same time. It will do us good if some are a little delayed.

]]> By: Amelia http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-2774 Amelia Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:07:00 +0000 http://www.theslowcook.com/?p=1061#comment-2774 Ohh, then maybe it was birds that attacked my tomatoes the other day. I wrote on my blog that it was a squirrel, but only because I see them on my fire escape a lot. Whatever it was, it definitely ate the foliage it stripped. No detritus of the carnage, just the sad little beheaded seedling. Ohh, then maybe it was birds that attacked my tomatoes the other day. I wrote on my blog that it was a squirrel, but only because I see them on my fire escape a lot. Whatever it was, it definitely ate the foliage it stripped. No detritus of the carnage, just the sad little beheaded seedling.

]]> By: fastweedpuller http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-2773 fastweedpuller Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:06:23 +0000 http://www.theslowcook.com/?p=1061#comment-2773 I think the birds are simply trying to make sure your tomatoes have strong root systems! Your toms should be fine, though I understand how frustrating it can be. Our one and only bird pest is chickens so that's our own fault, right? I think the birds are simply trying to make sure your tomatoes have strong root systems!

Your toms should be fine, though I understand how frustrating it can be. Our one and only bird pest is chickens so that’s our own fault, right?

]]> By: ppolischuk http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-2772 ppolischuk Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:00:26 +0000 http://www.theslowcook.com/?p=1061#comment-2772 Sounds like the makings of a bad M. Night Shyamalan movie. Hanging CDs and small aluminum foil flags on twigs have helped keep the birds from digging too excitedly in my backyard. Looks like I'll have to put up some shiny things in the front when my tomatoes go out this weekend. Do you have a backup plan? I saw Whole Foods had some exceptionally leggy tomato seedlings out front yesterday evening, and with a decent selection of cultivars. Sounds like the makings of a bad M. Night Shyamalan movie. Hanging CDs and small aluminum foil flags on twigs have helped keep the birds from digging too excitedly in my backyard. Looks like I’ll have to put up some shiny things in the front when my tomatoes go out this weekend.

Do you have a backup plan? I saw Whole Foods had some exceptionally leggy tomato seedlings out front yesterday evening, and with a decent selection of cultivars.

]]> By: gmanubay http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-2771 gmanubay Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:01:59 +0000 http://www.theslowcook.com/?p=1061#comment-2771 I can't remember if I told you this before, but my mom would hang old CDs around her fruit trees to keep the birds away - they were shiny and moved with the wind, so a good deterrent. Maybe you could tie some up on your cages? I can’t remember if I told you this before, but my mom would hang old CDs around her fruit trees to keep the birds away – they were shiny and moved with the wind, so a good deterrent. Maybe you could tie some up on your cages?

]]> By: Sylvie http://www.theslowcook.com/2009/04/21/the-birds/comment-page-1/#comment-2770 Sylvie Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:51:56 +0000 http://www.theslowcook.com/?p=1061#comment-2770 how frustrating!!!! Does it happen just with seedlings, or do they also go after larger plants? but then, I suppose larger plants would stand the onslaught better.... Crows will sometimes go after emerging corn here, pulling the seedlings out of the ground. They leave the corn alone when it's bigger (a ffot or so). To foil them, I cover my bed with agricultural fabric (Reemay is one brand name). The fabric is light enough to let the plant push it from below, and as an added bonus, give a few degrees of frost protection... I also have to cover the blueberry plants before the berries turn, otherwise I don't get any. Netting won't do it. Seems I have to hide things so birds won't go after them. But that's the only two crops I have had bird issues with. Maybe look into Reemay? or keep your homemade cloches on.... how frustrating!!!! Does it happen just with seedlings, or do they also go after larger plants? but then, I suppose larger plants would stand the onslaught better….

Crows will sometimes go after emerging corn here, pulling the seedlings out of the ground. They leave the corn alone when it’s bigger (a ffot or so). To foil them, I cover my bed with agricultural fabric (Reemay is one brand name). The fabric is light enough to let the plant push it from below, and as an added bonus, give a few degrees of frost protection… I also have to cover the blueberry plants before the berries turn, otherwise I don’t get any. Netting won’t do it. Seems I have to hide things so birds won’t go after them. But that’s the only two crops I have had bird issues with.

Maybe look into Reemay? or keep your homemade cloches on….

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