Latest news with #birddeterrent
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hawks to deter birds ahead of Grimsby car park demolition
Hawks are being used to discourage seagulls and pigeons from nesting in a multi-storey car park which is set to be demolished. Abbey Walk car park, in Grimsby, has been closed since May 2024 because of structural issues caused by water penetrating some of the have been approved to demolish the car park, which was built in 1969. However, should any habitable nests be found, the plans would have to be postponed until the chicks were able to leave the East Lincolnshire Council said trained hawks Mavric and Chief were being deployed to fly at low levels throughout the car park twice a week to provide a deterrent against birds wanting to nest there. The hawks were also being employed around vacant units on Osborne Street, which are also due to be demolished, the council added.A town centre improvement plan for the area includes a new transport hub and a 120-space surface car park. A spokesperson said the hawks were well trained, would not attack other birds and were purely used as a pillars of the Abbey Walk car park feature modernist reliefs by artist and sculptor Harold Gosney, which a conservation team has scanned using 3D technology so they can be reprinted in the future. It followed a campaign to preserve the artworks by the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic council said the demolition work would start in the coming months. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I'm a gardening expert – the free, easy way to keep pesky birds off your plants this summer
WITH spring in full swing, gardens will be enjoying a burst of new life - but there can be a few unwelcome visitors. Unfortunately for green-fingered Brits, birds are drawn to ripening plants looking for a tasty snack, often stealing crops before they have the chance to be picked. 2 2 To help, Richard King, garden expert at Dino Decking, has revealed a fun and family-friendly hack, which is gaining popularity on TikTok and Reddit. This trick is to use painted rocks as decoy fruit to keep birds at bay. The gardening professional explained: 'By painting small rocks using waterproof paint, gardeners can create realistic-looking decoys that resemble ripe fruit such as strawberries, tomatoes and more. 'These colourful fakes lure birds in early, only for them to be met with a hard, unappetising surprise and over time, conditioning birds to associate those bright colours with disappointment and avoid the real thing altogether. 'It's a brilliantly simple deterrent that's eco-friendly, safe for wildlife, and surprisingly effective. 'Plus, it's a great way to involve children in the garden. They get to be creative, learn about nature, and feel like part of the growing process.' Richard shared five easy steps to creating the bird deterrents in your garden… 1. Choose the right stones Start by collecting smooth, rounded stones that closely resemble the size and shape of the fruit you want to imitate, such as strawberries, tomatoes, or apricots. 2. Paint and add realistic fruit details Use outdoor-safe acrylic paint in bright colours so they are easy for birds to spot, think red for strawberries, yellow for apricots, or deep purple for plums. Be sure to apply an even coat and decorate them with fine details like seeds, stems, or shading using smaller brushes or paint pens to make your painted rocks more convincing. Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Garden Pest-Free 4. Seal for durability Once the paint has dried completely, protect your work by sealing the stones with a clear, waterproof sealant. A shellac glaze is particularly effective for long-lasting, weather-resistant results. 5. Place them in your garden Set the painted stones among your plants early in the growing season, ideally before any fruit begins to ripen, to train birds to avoid the area. For example, placing strawberry rocks in your garden about three weeks before your real strawberries begin to turn red can help deter birds just in time to save your crop. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
Irish Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
How do I stop birds uprooting my vegetable seedlings?
I've recently discovered that lots of young vegetable seedlings in my allotment have been uprooted. I suspect it may be birds. Any tips on how to stop them? Shauna C, Dublin Unfortunately, this is often a problem for kitchen gardeners at this time of year and can quickly result in a lot of damage. The most common offenders are blackbirds, thrushes, pigeons and members of the crow family. Once upon a time the recommended solution was to create a cat's cradle of twine or thread criss-crossed over the seedlings as a deterrent, but this runs the risk of accidentally entangling and injuring any visiting birds. Ultrasonic bird deterrents that use noise at a pitch imperceptible to human ears are also available, but are by no means a nature-friendly solution. A far better alternative is to cover your seedlings with fleece, garden netting or failing that, a fine gauge chicken wire, all of which can be very effective but do need to be monitored twice daily (once in the morning, then again in the evening) to make sure that birds haven't accidentally got caught beneath them. Traditional bird scarers such as old CDs or DVDs hung from short sticks can also help to deter them, as can bamboo canes stuck into the ground close by. Other gardeners have also had success with using garden chimes, but these aren't to everybody's taste so perhaps check with your fellow allotment holders first to see if there are any objections. READ MORE Birds, slugs and snails can all wreak havoc on young seedlings The good news is that it's usually only a short-lived problem that will soon disappear as your seedlings get bigger. But if it becomes a persistent issue, then consider raising young plants in modules under cover of a cold frame or polytunnel so that they're already quite sturdy young transplants by the time you plant them out. Not only will this technique help to protect them against possible bird damage, but it also makes them less vulnerable to damage from slugs and snail as well as more resilient in the face of unfavourable growing conditions.
