Robins are the worst birds in my backyard orchard. They peck lots of peaches if the trees aren’t netted. Naturally they peck the nicest, sweetest peaches getting the most sunlight. I never see them eat anything but worms (a beneficial) here. They are a real nuisance bird for a backyard orchard here.
At my commercial orchard, thrushers are probably the worst. They will peck and ruin peaches just like the robins. Destroy lots and lots of fruit. This year I have decided to start covering some trees with nets there. Just ordered six more 100’ rolls of bird netting today.
Re: Sparrow traps
We used to have real sparrow problems when I had a pig farm. There was always spilled feed around which attracted lots of sparrows.
I tried 2 different small sparrow traps (I remember one was called a “Last Perch” sparrow trap). Neither of those traps caught many sparrows at all.
Finally I paid $300 (25 years ago) for a really big sparrow trap. I remember talking a long time to a guy on the phone about it and asked a lot of questions about how well it worked before buying it.
He claimed it worked because once one sparrow goes into the large trap, it will “call” other sparrows to come into the trap. He was exactly correct. That thing filled up with sparrows in no time. It would catch 50 sparrows pretty quick. The guy claimed the large size of the trap was a key factor. I don’t know if that’s true, but that large trap did work, while the other two small traps didn’t.
Hawks are the best birds for an orchard here. The trouble is we now have these small birds out at the orchard which chase the big hawks off by dive bombing the hawks in the air. I think if I could get rid of the small birds chasing the hawks away, the hawks might get rid of the thrushers.
Good information on the sparrow traps, thanks! I can’t justify anything in the $300 range for a trap yet. I may check with our nuisance wildlife specialist at KSU, he may have one, or know someone who does.
I knew that more birds would show up around here as the trees and shrubs started to mature and provide nesting habitat and food. I am just a little bummed that they have. As you stated, robins eat a lot of worms. I want to keep the worms! If only we could get these and other birds to eat the grubs, stink bugs, J beetles, June bugs, etc. It just doesn’t seem like anything is eating the destructive bugs.
What is a good price for bird netting, or insect netting that will keep bugs and birds out?
Had an oriole in my sour cherry tree today, drinking nectar from blossoms. Does anyone know if they are destructive to the blooms/new fruit? I swear i read on here that someone had an oriole stripping flower petals off. But i can’t find it! Wondering if i should net it or let it be?
I think they don’t like the suburbs! I don’t have them here, but 35 miles away at my cottage on an island, hundreds of them there. So it’s not the water. Sparrows don’t seem to do anything I see? My only problem is Robins, some cardinals, but they spook easily and don’t come back. The dog scares them. Well squirrels too, but again the dog keeps them out. He almost got one the other day. Nettings works well for the squirrels, but the robins often try to get through often trapping themselves. Last year one got dangled in the net, in full sun and it cooked. It was dead when I found it. Then is happened again. At lest a couple a year die in my nets. many more trapped inside. You have to seal it everywhere around the blueberries.
I don’t think it was orioles, but one year i had a pair of birds in my plum tree that kept going after the blossoms. I don’t think fruit set was hurt, but that tree was one big bloom so it needed thinning.
Catbirds also love grapes. I’ve seen robins eating blueberries. Something pecks ripening fruit that shows any color…need to have wireless security cameras on every tree!
There is no beating birds in the city. Way too many bushes/shrubs/trees etc…bird feeders everywhere so i just starting covering fruit when i can…and if they get some oh well. I did stop picking damaged fruit hoping they would just keep eating the already hit stuff.
Just looked out my window and saw a pair of catbirds patrolling the yard. Probably sizing up the blackcurrant bush. There was only one around last year …it brought a friend this year, how cute.
To update, the oriole didn’t hurt anything. Here’s a grainy zoomed in pic.
I missed this thread originally and am late, but I’m shocked at how different many of your answers are from what I experience. Particularly Robins. I have lots of Robins at my place and honestly have never once seen one eating fruit from my trees! And my worst offender by far hasn’t even been mentioned - mockingbirds. Mockingbirds do most of the fruit eating in my orchard. I think they are closely related to catbirds which I think are a big problems for me as well. Blue-jays are another frequent fruit eater for me. Cardinals will grab some occasionally as well. That is about it here. I have major and serious bird problems for sure, but all of it can be traced to just a few species.
Catbirds are the worst. They peck At EVERYTHING and make such an annoying call. Blueberries, haskaps, figs, strawberries, and mulberries are all taken. They are horrible with figs pecking at every single one as they ripen. Organza bags were the only thing that guaranteed a harvest the past 2 years. They also destroyed half my crop of blackberries last year, packing at any berry they could and leaving the damaged berries to rot. This promoted SWD which rose to plague levels. I blame my neighbors for having unkept hedges overgrown with wild trees and other volunteers. I’m sure the catbirds nest there. Interestingly they leave raspberries alone. Perhaps not dark enough in color to catch their attention. They however have no problems eating all my white figs.
crows are the only birds i see that eat my fruit. I’ve seen a few sparrows in my honey berries and they take a few but don’t do the damage the crows do. we are infested with them here.
My farm is surrounded by forest.
There are an amazing amount and variety of birds here.
I see this as a sign of very healthy ecosystem.
I try to keep in mind , it’s not a bird in "my "
orchard,
but that I am trying to farm in " their " habitat.
So we share !
Just wish they would do a little more of the work part.
But really I think they do.
The bugs and stuff they eat, pays for any problems they cause , … Usually …?
That said, … Cedar wax wings, can sure put a dent in small fruit. When they come there is a bunch of them ,and can quickly finish off a cherry tree, or other small fruit.
Blue birds ,chickadees ,Wrens etc ,are good to have around, bug eaters for sure.
Placing nest boxes for them around the orchard helps a lot , I think.
They go the shortest distance to catch a bug to feed their young, so they are Allways watching if you have enough boxes
