Hanging ferns are a beautiful addition to any home, and they are also a popular spot for birds to build their nests. If you have hanging ferns, you may have noticed that birds love to nest in them. While this can be a nuisance, there are ways to deter birds. Let’s look at how to keep birds out of your ferns.
Why birds nest on hanging ferns
There are a few reasons why birds might choose to build their nests in hanging ferns. Here are some of them:
1. Safety
First and most importantly, ferns can offer a degree of safety for the birds. This is because they are often located away from ground level, which can help protect the birds from predators.
Besides, ferns with a dense growth of fronds can provide a good amount of cover for the nests. This can help protect the eggs and young chicks from flying predators.
2. Food
Another reason birds like to nest in ferns is that there is, more than likely, a good supply of food nearby. This can include insects, worms, and other small creatures that the birds can eat.
3. Location
Another factor is location. Hanging ferns are often found near windows or other openings where the birds can come and go as they please.
Why you shouldn’t have birds nesting on your ferns
You may think to yourself, “What’s the big deal if the birds nest in my ferns? It’s not like they’re doing any harm. Besides, wouldn’t it be fun to watch the baby birds grow up?”
While it may seem like harmless fun, there are actually a few reasons why you shouldn’t allow birds to nest in your ferns.
1. Health concerns
One of the biggest reasons is that birds can carry diseases that can be harmful to humans. These diseases can be transmitted to humans through contact with the bird’s feces.
2. Your ferns risk dying
Another reason is that your ferns could die if the birds nest in them. This is because it will be almost impossible to water the ferns properly with the nests and the tiny, vulnerable chicks in the way.
3. Bird droppings can be an annoyance
Another thing to consider is that bird droppings can be a bother. They can dirty your ferns and anything else that happens to be beneath them. Besides, cleaning up after the birds can be a real pain.
4. Birds can be noisy
Another downside to having birds nest in your ferns is that they can be quite noisy. This is especially true if you have a lot of birds nesting in your ferns. The constant chirping can be quite annoying.
How to keep birds out of ferns?
So, now that you know why you shouldn’t allow birds to nest in your ferns, you’re probably wondering how to keep them out. Here are some effective ways to do just that:
1. Be vigilant
One of the best things you can do is to stay vigilant. This means checking your ferns regularly for signs of birds nesting.
If you see any birds nesting in your ferns, remove the materials immediately. This will discourage the birds from nesting in your ferns in the future.
2. Cover your ferns
Another effective way to keep birds out of your ferns is to cover them. This can be done with a piece of netting or bird mesh draped over the plant and pot.
Be sure to choose a netting that is fine enough to keep the birds out, while still allowing effective watering and sunlight exposure.
3. Create a noise disturbance
Birds prefer to nest in quiet, peaceful locations. So, one way to keep them out of your ferns is to create disturbances near the plants.
You can do this by hanging wind chimes or other noise-makers near the ferns. The constant noise will deter the birds from nesting in your plants.
Children’s pinwheels have especially proven to be effective in keeping birds away. You can also try ultrasonic bird-repellent devices.
4. Use predator urine
Another effective method is to use predator urine around your ferns. This will give the birds the impression that a predator is nearby, and deter them from nesting in the area.
You can use urine from dogs or other predators. Just be sure to apply it sparingly, as too much can actually attract predators to your yard.
5. Reflective tape as a scare tactic
Reflective tape is another good option. The shiny, reflective surface will scare the birds away and keep them from nesting in your ferns. Birds are typically unable to process reflections as we do.
Seeing such reflections can confuse the birds, making most of them want to steer clear.
6. Use bird spikes
If you want a more permanent solution, you can try using bird spikes. These are special devices that are placed on ledges, window sills, and other locations where birds like to nest.
The spikes make it impossible for the birds to land, which will effectively keep them away from your ferns.
Concluding thoughts
As you can see, there are quite a number of ways to deter birds. So, if you’re having trouble with birds nesting in your plants, be sure to try one or more of the methods listed above.
With a little effort, you should be able to keep the birds at bay and your beautiful ferns unharmed.