Birds sure love the taste of ripe figs dangling from the branches. Often, they like to pick and choose. And since they do not bother looking for clues and telltale signs of ripeness, they devastate as many fruits as possible.
How do I protect my fig from birds? Not all birds eat your figs because they are hungry. For clarity, most of them use the juiciest fruits as a water source, especially in inland areas. So, a simple solution is to provide water through a fountain or birdbath.
You can also use organza bags and other solutions provided in the following section on how to protect fig tree from birds.
How To Protect Fig Tree From Birds
1. Installing A Birdbath
As a gardener, nothing is more painful than waiting all year for a fruit tree to produce fruits and seeing birds pecking all of them to death. So, installing a birdbath is often a sensible choice, especially if you are looking for a long-term solution. But some birds will still destroy a fig crop because they are lazy or easily frightened.
Some birds will not use a birdbath unless it is clean and in a safe position. In other words, they will prefer to peck your figs rather than drink from a water source that is:
- dirty or muddy
- hard to access
- hidden from bird view
- near to human activity or other potential predators
- too far away from your figs and other fruit trees and vegetables
2. Cover Your Figs With Organza Bags
If you have enough time to cover every fruit on your fig tree, using green organza bags is the way to go. These bags come in varying shapes and sizes. But more importantly, they work perfectly against birds and nasty insects trying to get inside your figs, lay their eggs inside them, and whatnot.
Why do green organza bags on fig trees work better than anything else? The green netting itself works as a deterrent and a camouflage. After all, it is because of the colorful fruits that birds flock to a fig tree in the first place. The color indicates the fruits are ripening nicely. And birds know that green figs are not ripe yet.
3. Install A Bird Feeder
Providing food will take care of those hungry birds that eat your figs because they are hungry. Bird feeders may also keep birds away from your home and stop them pooping on your deck.
Plus, it will reduce crop loss from occasional snacking. But you have to make sure the bird feeder is near a readily available water source. Otherwise, the birds might still come back to your fig tree because they have eaten and now they are thirsty.
After all, figs contain about 80% water, and the rest is mostly sugar and vitamins.
Nuts and seeds are the best food for hungry birds. Why? Because they are calorie-dense, which means the birds will feel full faster and will not want to eat more. Of course, nuts and seeds contain minerals and fatty acids, so they still need a drink afterward.
Birds consume tons of calories by flying all day. Once the birds find out about your bird feeder, they will leave your figs alone.
But you had better install enough bird feeders around your property if you experience high bird traffic. Opt for colorful, easy-to-spot bird feeders and place them in easily accessible spots.
4. Prune Your Fig Shrubs
If you keep your fig trees as low to the ground as possible, most birds will not have the guts to come down. This solution works best when you want to pass the buck to your neighbors. Plus, it keeps the figs at a hand-reaching distance.
Depending on where you place your low figs, this solution will deter squirrels too. You can also use trellises to train your fig trees.
The lower the figs can grow, the better. Most birds will feel insecure sitting so low to the ground. In the end, the fear of being attacked by some nearby predators will win against the birds’ desire for a juicy taste.
Dwarf varieties also receive less attention from birds for the same reason. So, we can put growing dwarf varieties in this category as well.
5. Scare Tactics
A simple yet effective way to keep birds away from your fig tree is installing visual and auditory scare devices. Animals such as deer, squirrels and chipmunks may also eat your figs.
Thanks to the latest technologies, you can opt for both traditional and innovative solutions such as:
- commercial avian chemical repellents and natural plant extracts
- placing plastic owls and snakes all over your orchard
- playing a YouTube playlist with bird distress and predator calls
- scarecrows and painted balloons under your fig tree
- sirens that go off at irregular intervals
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