A bird in the hand - Brian Lovelidge looks at alternative bird control on cherry crops

摘要

Starlings, anathema to cherry growers with unprotected orchards. have declined considerably in numbers over the past 25 years or so But there are still enough of them to wreak havoc to cherries after they start to colour from about mid-June onwards. Most orchards planted since the late 1980's are suitable for netting against starlings and other cherry-loving birds like blackbirds However nets don't always prevent cannier birds from pecking and spoiling fruit close to the netting (see later).