How to Safely and Humanely Get Rid of Birds

A plan to get rid of birds that are interfering with your garden and property—whether residential or commercial—does not need to be harmful to the pest birds. Birds only do what nature intended them to do: survive by hiding away from predators, foraging for food, and proliferating. A home garden is an ideal source of food for birds and other pests. For more helpful strategies, be sure to explore our guides on how to keep birds away from your home and options regarding catch-and-release bird traps.

Garden Bird Netting

Bird barriers help to get rid of the birds from consuming your garden's produce. Bird netting is a low-profile and highly effective measure for barring birds from an area. Using bird netting in the garden is a tried-and-true bird barrier. The netting is lightweight and easy for any backyard gardener to install, and it is long-lasting outdoors because it is treated with UV-protected polypropylene. There are different mesh sizes to choose from depending on the type of bird that needs to be denied access. Protecting fruit trees is as simple as measuring the circumference of the tree, then cutting the mesh an extra foot all the way around. The bird netting is then secured to the tree using twine, hog rings, or zip ties, and it is virtually invisible when installed correctly.

Protecting blueberry bushes, other berry bushes, and miscellaneous garden plants with bird netting is just as easy. It is recommended to suspend the bird netting using poles placed around the area that needs defending, keeping the netting at least four inches above the plants. This gives the gardener easy access for pruning and picking berries and vegetables. Many vegetable plants can also be wrapped individually, depending on the size of the garden. If there are only a few plants, wrapping them individually is easiest; if the area is large, creating suspended bird netting protection is more practical.

Using Bird Spikes Alongside Netting

Bird spikes are another form of bird barrier that help protect your garden and property. Pest birds are known to perch and roost near food sources, such as trees and ledges near gardens or outdoor dining areas. With bird netting in place over your plants, it is also valuable to protect patio covers, fences, or roof areas with bird spikes. Bird spikes get rid of birds by creating an uneven surface that prevents them from landing, forcing them to move on to another location. Plastic bird spikes can be secured using glue, screws, or ties, and are available in a variety of colors to match your structure for a quick weekend project.

Combining bird netting and bird spikes will effectively keep pests away from your property and stop them from eating your garden fruits and vegetables. Both methods are entirely humane, simply eliminating access to structures and gardens and encouraging pests to find another feeding and roosting area.