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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Using Tinsel to Protect Figs from Birds
 
 


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FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I was over at Greenfield Citrus Nursery in Mesa, AZ recently.  They sell citrus trees and a bunch of other fruit tress as well.  They have a large orchard made up mostly of citrus trees but there are also figs and some other types of fruit trees.  

I was talking to one of the workers there.  I mentioned that I lose a lot of figs to the birds if I don't cover my trees with netting.  She said that they have had problems before with birds damaging fruit.  She said what works best for them is to hang tinsel in the trees.  She said that the sun reflecting off of it really bothers the birds, especially when the wind is blowing.  

Has anyone else ever heard of using tinsel to keep the birds away from fruit?  Does it work good with fig trees?  I think I will hang tinsel in some of my trees this year to see if it works.
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Joe
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alan7s

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Interesting;  can you describe what the tinsel looked like?  Several different things get
called tinsel around here so it would help to know as I'd like to try it

Thanks.......
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John Alan
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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I've tried Mylar tape, CDs (they will damage your trees),  pie pans, etc. with no success.
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FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
John, by tinsel I mean the stuff you hang in your Christmas tree.  

This stuff:

She said the color doesn't really matter.


James, that's too bad that none of those things worked.  They all sound like they would be similar to tinsel.  The lady at the nursery swore by the tinsel though, so I think I will still give it a shot and see what happens.  Bird netting definitely works but I find it to be a big inconvenience.  I was hoping that the tinsel might be effective.
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Joe
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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Joe, I call that stuff garland. Tinsel is the stuff you kinda place/throw on the tree. Usually sliver in color, very thin strips about a foot long or so.
FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I guess I need to brush up on my Christmas terminology... but I'm sure it's the stuff in the photo above.  She referred to it as tinsel and they even had some there for sale in their office.
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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Where do you get tinsel this time of year in Phoenix? If you find it, let me know.
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alan7s

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Thanks Joe;  pictures helped.  I think they call that Garland here, but whatever
it is I'm sure we can find some and try it.
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John Alan
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FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Fignatic, they had tinsel for sale at Greenfield Citrus Nursery for $0.25 per foot.  I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper to buy it online from Amazon or a similar site.

John, I'm going to try it.  I'll let the forum know if it works in my yard.  Bird netting is the only thing that I have found to be effective so far.
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Joe
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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Joe;  When you use bird netting are you referring to enclosing the whole plant or
is it possible to enclose individual figs?  I guess that would be a pain, but for
someone who get 6 or 8 figs total, it's a thought.  I tried it last year but the
critters just ripped the netting off.  Didn't see them so not sure it was birds.....
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John Alan
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FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
I have always used bird netting to enclose whole trees, not individual fruit.  But my inground trees are getting larger now and it would require a lot of netting.  We get pretty windy weather when storms pass through here and it blows the netting all over the place.  Sometimes birds get caught inside the netting.  It looks bad and affects the way the new leaves that are growing develop because they have to push against the netting as they form.  It keeps the birds off the fruit but is a pain and definitely has drawbacks.
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Gina

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
I can't stand using netting. After disentangling two very angry gopher snakes (unharmed), I stopped using it.  Another died because I did not find it in time. Very sad.

I also think of tinsel as the thin strands you hang on the tree, and garland to me is not tinsel. But... if you do a google image search for 'tinsel', most photos are of garland. So maybe the terms have changed.

The garland would be easier to use. YOu could probably try smaller length's attached with clothes pins.

Last year I tried putting each fig into a little sheer baggie. 'They' removed the entire thing. Probably not birds.

I've used mylar tape to keep birds away from the blueberries, but it's only partially effective. Better than nothing however. But the birds will get used to it in a few weeks. The package says it's most effective for 6 weeks.
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FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
I think you and John are right.  It is supposed to be called garland.  But I've always known it as tinsel and I guess some other people call it that too.  I'm sure it is not as effective as netting.  But even if it reduces the loss to birds somewhat it may still be worth it.  In the summertime the figs ripen pretty fast here.  I had a real problem in the fall when the temps dropped and the figs took a lot longer to ripen.  Thats when the birds started getting almost all of them.  I may resort to using netting again if I start losing too many figs to the birds this year.
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Joe
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Dave

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 

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alan7s

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
It may make a big difference how you hang it.  Draped like Christmas tree garland,
(i.e., mostly horizontal), it would take a good breeze to make the individual needles wave and therefore flash - if that's what scares the birds.

But if you cut pieces a foot or 2 long and hung them by nylon thread (fishing line?), I'll bet they would move pretty much all the time and maybe work better.

I'll probably go back to netting IF I can find 1/2" squares.  The wrens go through the
standard 3/4" stuff like open doors.
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John Alan
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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Great video and good idea.  Thanks for sharing it.  By the way, signature says CT but
the video showed palm trees!  Where in CT are you  : - )
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John Alan
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Centurion

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Here's where I buy bird netting and shade cloth.   It's 3/4 X 3/4 mesh (Sorry Alan).

http://amigoni.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=101&Category_Code=BN

I just can't see wrapping individual figs.  

(Black Turkey???)
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Dave
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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alan7s
Great video and good idea.  Thanks for sharing it.  By the way, signature says CT but
the video showed palm trees!  Where in CT are you  : - )


Alan I am in Connecticut and I just found that video on youtube, I wish I could switch residence with them , tired of New England weather. 
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alan7s

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Centurion  They do have a smaller mesh too; Not sure I could use 820' of it, but maybe some of us could go in together on a roll...  Thanks for the link.
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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alan7s
Centurion  They do have a smaller mesh too; Not sure I could use 820' of it, but maybe some of us could go in together on a roll...  Thanks for the link.


I totally missed that Alan.   Wish I had that instead of the 3/4.  I'd split a roll with you but I'm still working on the one I bought two years ago.    It's good stuff.  Holds up to the sun real well and is reusable.
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FrozenJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
I wish I could get a Cooper's Hawk to nest near my house.  That would be the best solution.  I see hawks fly over sometimes and all the birds scatter.
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Joe
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Figfinatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Thanks for the tip.   Tinsel/Garland it will be.   I will try it.  The neighbors will really be talking now.   Tinsel/Garland in 115+ degree weather.    Better yet.  HOA will be writing some letters if they even see it pop up over the fence.   
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noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
I do use the black netting to spot cover areas of the fig trees that are ripening figs and it works well.  I use clothespins to hold the netting in place.  I cut pieces large enough to cover an area so the figs aren't right up against the netting because the birds will just peck through that.

Here, when hawks fly over, the mockingbirds go after them and drive them off.  They are nothing but little feathered thugs, those mockers.  They are not afraid of anything, or anyone.  They laugh at any attempts to frighten them away.

Mike and I made a framwork of PVC piping as a surround for our fig tree and then fastened the bird netting over that and it worked great until the squirrels found the fig tree and they got in somehow we never figured out.  It did keep the mockingbirds awa from the tree.

The framework keeps the weight of the netting off the fig tree itself.  Things went great with the netting until Mike passed too close to it with the mower and sucked the bottom of the netting into the mower.  Tore things apart.  The framework has never been the same since.....

noss
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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
I just joined this figs4fun forum and I noticed this conversation about keeping birds out of the fig trees. I fought that all of my gardening life. I tried everything and nothing worked more than a week but I found on an internet search an inflatable scarecrow called AIRCROW. Man that thing works. I didn't loose hardly a one. I was shocked at how many figs I got because I didn't have to share it with the birds.

It's kind of funny because I got to feeling sorry for the birds and turned it off after I got all I wanted.

Anyway I'm glad to find some other fig lovers out there. Maybe I'll get to meet some of y'all at a festival.

Dr. Stocks


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rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Welcome, Dr Stocks!  You'll get more welcomes if you introduce yourself in a new thread where you're from, what kinds of plants and figs you grow, that sort of thing.  Thanks for the info on the aircrow.
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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
It's Festivus for the rest of us!
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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Quote:
Originally Posted by drofstocks_55
I just joined this figs4fun forum and I noticed this conversation about keeping birds out of the fig trees. I fought that all of my gardening life. I tried everything and nothing worked more than a week but I found on an internet search an inflatable scarecrow called AIRCROW. Man that thing works. I didn't loose hardly a one. I was shocked at how many figs I got because I didn't have to share it with the birds. It's kind of funny because I got to feeling sorry for the birds and turned it off after I got all I wanted. Anyway I'm glad to find some other fig lovers out there. Maybe I'll get to meet some of y'all at a festival. Dr. Stocks


While i do not have any bird problems that inflatable scarecrow would be nice to put in our closet
to greet the Mrs.
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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Welcome Dr. Stocks.

Martin, 
I hope you a buy a defibrillator as well.
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drofstocks_55

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
It is pretty scary especiallially when it's on the timer and starts goming up. 

Ok rcantor I'll update my profile.
Thanks
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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
It would be really cool to plug it into a motion sensor outlet instead of a timer. Overall it's too expensive for my needs. I did recently purchase the water scarecrow though I haven't got to use it yet.
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drofstocks_55

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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
I think that they are working on that motion detector because I had the same comment.  But what I did was buy a demo model through a company called airobics. It was much cheaper and was the exact same thing and never used. They gave me the same warranty. You might check to see if they still have any left. 
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Dr. Stock
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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
 Airobics doesn't work well in a search engine. All about the aerobics.
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drofstocks_55

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Posted Reply with quote  #33 
You are right I didn't find it on a search either so I looked up a different way and found it. AIROBICS.CO
It's dot CO and not dot COM. That through me off.   
 
I also saw it on Amazon under AirCrow but you will probably have to call the company directly for the demo deal.

Hope that helps.
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Dr. Stock
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DallasFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #34 
How does rain and sprinkler affect those AirCrow blowers? Are they waterproof?

As for the motion detector, wouldn't the wind blowing the leaves of the trees set it off? Maybe an app that can monitor a video feed and detect objects that comes into the video frame?
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drofstocks_55

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Posted Reply with quote  #35 
It says UL listed and outdoor use on the blower and I leave it out in the rain. Haven't had any problems. The inlatables have some kind of silicone coating that sheds the water off pretty good and with air going through it, it drys out pretty quick anyway. The one I got was the bigger one that has a man scarecrow and a 10 foot snake. The snake one actually worked better around my fig trees. The little man hung up a couple of times by his arms.

As far as a motion detector, I guess it could be like some of those heat sensative detectors like on some lights. 
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Posted Reply with quote  #36 
I'm from Coastal GA and my aunt always just hung fake rubber snakes up in her fig tree. Maybe that's too low-tech but it always seemed to work well. I believe she shifted them around every few days or so. Scares the be-jesus out of folks that want to steal them too! lol
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Posted Reply with quote  #37 
JustPeachy , funny you should post this .  I just ordered a few !! Thanks for posting and welcome .
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Posted Reply with quote  #38 
I found some tinsel....took these photos outside of Exeter California.....We have them to scare the birds near the grapevines.

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Armando between Fresno/Bakersfield California

Attached Images
jpeg Tinsel_no2.jpg (381.15 KB, 38 views)
jpeg Tinsel_no3.jpg (297.48 KB, 36 views)


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rivergirl

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Posted Reply with quote  #39 
I live in South Texas, along the Nueces River.  My figs get eaten by birds, squirrels & wasp.  My sister reminded me recently that our Grandmother would wrap pieces of foil around the tree.  I'm just wondering if this would hurt the tree in any way.  Or should I just hang pieces of foil randomly. 
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Posted Reply with quote  #40 
Did anyone ever try the garland?  Did it help?

I could see wrapping foil around the tree retaining moisture causing the branches to start developing roots or rotting but I've never tried it.
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Posted Reply with quote  #41 
Welcome to the forum rivergirl.  I don't think the foil would hurt the tree.  I bought a roll of this tape to use on my 2 blueberry bushes. 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bird-Repellent-Crow-Deer-Scare-Away-Flash-Tape-Farmland-Deterrent-100M-330FT-Red-/331410366665?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2998e0c9
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