I'm experiencing major problems on the allotments with jackdaw damage this year. We have had them on site for a number of years but I can't remember them ever causing the destruction they are this year.
Peas, broad bean, French bean (dwarf and climbing) and runner bean seedlings pecked up. Sweet corn plants ripped to shreds, even leek plants pecked off at the base. It is so soul destroying when you go to the trouble of raising plants only for them to end up as bird food.
It's getting to the stage where almost everything has to be netted or grown under debris netting. I'm sure the brassicas would be pecked to stumps but for the debris netting.
Strangely the lush, leafy perpetual spinach is untouched which you may think would make a tasty bird meal but obviously not.
So I'm now seriously considering getting a Scarem kite to see if I can move them on.
http://www.scarem.co.uk/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoIIHrWnEFoI know a vineyard that uses one of these to great effect once the grapes begin to ripen through to harvest. Their crop is completely unaffected by bird damage. Wasps are a different matter though.
So I wonder is anyone has any experience of these kites, either first hand or knowing of their efficiency.
Or your thoughts on these kites or ingenious ways to deter jackdaws I'd love to hear.