Does anyone know of a really inexpensive source for large quantities (I need about 5000 sf) of 1/2x1/2 inch black plastic bird netting?
I have been planning to set up a large tent of netting to protect my fruit trees, and figured the 3/4x3/4 inch netting from Amigoni Vineyards
(about 2 cents/sf) would be perfect. However, today when I noticed a verdin (the smallest of the birds that ruin my fruit) tangled in 1/2x1/2 inch netting around a persimmon tree, I decided to do a quick test. Since the bird was still alive, I carefully worked him loose and put him in a big tin can with a sample of Amigoni's 3/4x3/4 netting rubber-banded over the opening. You guessed it--he squirmed through the netting like it wasn't even there. So, unfortunately, 3/4x3/4 won't be small enough to stop these little guys from devouring my figs.
There are a lot of sources for 1/2x1/2 netting online, and I've found it at the local hardware stores, but it seems to come in little pieces with big price tags. If anyone has found a better source, I would appreciate knowing about it. Thanks!