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DesertDance

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
So, in all your experience, which color do the birds prefer?  At our new home, we have serious crows, quail, hawks, and some tiny little birdies.

We had to cover our persimmon with bird netting, and it was really hard to take it off!

The dude I got my Pakistan Mulberry cuttings from swore the birds don't know what it is........

Do you lose more green, gold, or dark figs to the birds?  Or, do they just not get it?  We lost our entire apricot and peach crop to birds.  Won't happen this year.  Still have that bird netting.

Thank you!

Suzi
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rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
That's hard.  None of my figs were bothered by animals last year.  I did put organza bags on all of them.
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Zone 6, MO

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Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
will

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
The birds hammered my hardy Chicago bad last year it seems like birds are attracted to the darker color figs I can't say I blame them!!
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
birds around here found that light figs are just as good as dark ones. i think i need martin to have talk with them.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Chivas

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
They went after my colisanti dark and MBvs before anything else, I netted the rest, these two trees are not as in plain sight so somewhat hidden from the patio and maybe they think they are safer.
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DesertDance

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Pete, light meaning green or gold?  I am hoping they don't see green. 

When we were taking the bird netting off the persimmon, we heard these huge wings flapping overhead.  Crows!  Laughing!  We banned them from the fruit, but they were happy to see us struggle with that netting!!
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Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
persianmd2orchard

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Great question, I get the feeling everyones birds are different.
Mine snipe the VdB anything super dark. My unk leb is the only one I dont usually have to protect. It has a camaflaugey skin color, brownish greenish.
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
suzi,

green, white, yellow.. i think next yr, there will be red one too. they peck on all of them. they love Paradiso Gene... light green. when they are done with Paradiso, they go for VdB or KB whichever has ripe fig.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
recomer20

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Birds can see color...in fact, they reportedly have a more sophisticated color sense than humans. I believe the idea is that a fig the same color as the fig leaf would be less noticeable, but a clever and curious bird will discover the goods in time. We feed the birds and squirrels generously, and I think they are generally too fat and happy with birdseed to even notice the figs. 
484270_2998387334102_257792595_n.jpg 

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Rick C. Birmingham, AL z7b --- *INGROUND: S.C.Lemon ("Dr.Welch"), LSUpurple, Celeste (Std) *POTTED 3rd Yr: Alma, Atreano, BattGreen, GrnGreek, HardyChicago, ItalianBlack (Becnel), LSUGold?, MBvs, Sal's EL, Southern BT?, St.Jean, Jackie'sUnk *POTTED 2nd Yr: SunbirdUnkJP, BourjNoire, JHAdriatic, ValleNegra *ROOTING: RdB, ScottsBlk, BlkGreek-MN,Preto
elin

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
I saw alot of people putting some reflective material near trees to scare off birds..
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jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
I think the key is to remove the ripe figs (and whatever the fruits you have around) on time. If the birds don't feel like you have lots of food for them, they don't get back too often.
The birds in my garden are only a problem to cherries. Last year, I was taking the fruits before the birds, and if they started pecking on one, I would remove the damaged fruit so that the birds would find nothing to eat the next time they came.
Of course this means the tree should be kept at a manageable size.
For my figs, the problem were the ants - but only for my green-yellowish "Damaltie" - they started to eat on 4 of my figs that I was allowing to have more time to get more ripe.
The other figs (the darker ones) were so far not attacked by any pests.
I no longer do feed the birds at my garden as this caused me problems with rodents as those were coming to eat what would be left on the floor - I had to choose ! and I did.
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bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
easier said than done. birds know exactly when the figs are ripen. i can't watch the figs all day long :)
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Once they figure out what they are the birds like all the figs. But in my yard VdB is their absolute favorite.
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Joe
Phoenix Area (Zone 9)
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cyberfarmer

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
At a recent California Rare Fruit Grower's meeting, the speaker stated that birds can see a spectrum of light that is invisible to humans, and that they can easily see which fruit are ripe when they fly over your trees. Many orchards in my neighborhood hang strips of Mylar tape from the trees just before harvest time. I think the reflection may make it more difficult for the birds to recognize ripe fruits.
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Paul the Fig Tree Destroyer in Fallbrook, CA (Zone 10A )
simonmoudgil

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Birds and their droppings causes dirt and it can cause infection too. Clean wrap provides  a special netting to close your balcony or to cover up your garden. It will keep the birds away from your home.
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Unwanted CDs hung from branches , in motion, will bother birds and squirrels a great deal.
My friend was bragging about his backyard last month and mentioned that for the first time  within last 8 years he harvested cherries and apricots from his garden because he had adopted a German Shepherd ... your choice ;)
Dieseler

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
From reading in past of the fig forums they have no preference, here in our yard i have some right next to water fountain which they frequent to take there daily baths and used to have several birdhouses on shed also near the fig tree's.
The fountain has been there since about 1990.


They never bother the figs.
I'm fortunate.
snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
You know Martin, I've heard the reason birds go for figs is because they are lacking water. I'm going to test that theory this year with a bird fountain.
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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