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Blackbirds are strawberry fiends!

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  • #1

    Blackbirds are strawberry fiends!

    I love our Mrs Blackbird and will happily throw worms her way while I'm digging but does she really have to eat my fattest strawberries ? It's bad enough that I have to share them with the voles and the wood mice but now even the fledgling blackbirds have developed a tast for them now, thanks to their mum.

    I didn't even know that blackbirds ATE strawberries and yes, they are under netting but she gets the ones nearest the netting.

    Mind you, I'm not going to complain too loud - at least our pair are managing to find enough food to raise their broods (4 in the first, 2 this time) which is more than can be said for blackbirds in other areas this spring, so I hear .

    Reet
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  • #2
    Blackbirds have always been keen on strawberries, I net mine well to avoid them getting any although do put the rubbish ones on the birdtable for them to have.

    Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

    Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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    • #3
      I have only managed to eat two of my strawberries from the allotment. The birds have beaten me to the others.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by reetnproper View Post
        I love our Mrs Blackbird and will happily throw worms her way while I'm digging but does she really have to eat my fattest strawberries ? It's bad enough that I have to share them with the voles and the wood mice but now even the fledgling blackbirds have developed a tast for them now, thanks to their mum.

        I didn't even know that blackbirds ATE strawberries and yes, they are under netting but she gets the ones nearest the netting.

        Mind you, I'm not going to complain too loud - at least our pair are managing to find enough food to raise their broods (4 in the first, 2 this time) which is more than can be said for blackbirds in other areas this spring, so I hear .

        Reet
        x
        Not only that but they will eat part of a strawberry and then move onto another, got our own back though as a sparhawk snipped his head off (and came back later for the rest), mind you we had such a glut this year that I am beginning to get a bit surly about picking them, and the chickens who I have given quite a few too no longer chase each other for them.

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        • #5
          Mine are under chicken netting - the strawbs, not the birds. Speaking of which, if you really want to see a chicken move, lob a strawb into the run!
          Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

          www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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          • #6
            Mine are under chicken wire too this year. Last year they used to bounce along the softer netting contraption I put up - I caught one at it once. I still get some eaten by slugs or some other critter. I had some infested with millipedes too- really made me shudder. Left those for the blackbirds.

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            • #7
              Mine are getting pecked! Wish they'd eat the mealworms I pop out instead...sigh!
              Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better...Albert Einstein

              Blog - @Twotheridge: For The Record - Sowing and Growing with a Virgin Veg Grower: Spring Has Now Sprung...Boing! http://vvgsowingandgrowing2012.blogs....html?spref=tw

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              • #8
                Originally posted by reetnproper View Post
                I didn't even know that blackbirds ATE strawberries
                They are famous for stealing strawberries!
                William Morris designed this iconic fabric in their honour (OK, these're thrushes, but blackbirds are a type of thrush)

                Just make sure your netting is pulled taut, or else the birds will tangle their feet in it, and that's a horrible death
                Last edited by Two_Sheds; 16-06-2011, 07:15 AM.
                All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                • #9
                  I wouldn't mind the birds pinching my strawberries, at least then the slugs won't get any more!

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                  • #10
                    Caught my scruffy little strawberry thief at it the other day. He looked up at me, put his head sideways and carried on...

                    Been letting him have the ones underneath the netting edge (I tuck it into the raised bed and let a few dangle), so he decided to perch on the netting support and go for the ones inside instead.

                    To be fair to him, he has taste - they're blooming good strawberries this year!
                    Last edited by Rabidbun; 17-06-2011, 07:35 PM.

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                    • #11
                      I don't mind the birds having a few, they have to eat as well but I lob any damaged ones out for them to enjoy. They do a good job picking off slugs and other creepy crawlies which deserves a treat

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