Blackbirds

[Bjerreby]

Having gone to considerable lengths to encourage birds into my garden (where I grow my veg), the blackbirds now insist on digging up everything that I sowed in modules and pots using my home-made sowing compost.

Yesterday, they dug up 3 yarrow seedlings, and moved on to have a go at my parsley. Oh, and I managed to salvage a Chartwell lettuce.

I know they are just doing what is natural to them, and I have encouraged them to hang around. Futhermore, I can't talk reason to them.  ;D. Is there anything I can do to keep them off seedlings? They already have plenty of compost around the garden to dig in, but they make straight for the compost with a seedling in it!

Not nets please, they are a trap.

[Bjerreby]

[thifasmom]

i know you said no nets but i use them with so far no trapping problems, i only leave them on long enough for the plants to establish themselves into the ground, then the net comes off.

but an alternative for individual plants are hanging baskets popped over them and for rows of a crop how about a cloche type structure but made from chicken wire.

can't seem to find a pic describing what i'm on about but if i do i'll post it here.

[shirlton]

I use upturned hanging baskets for seedlings sown straight into the ground. Other than that use old supermarket baskets or 25m wire mesh

[lavenderlux]

Do you think they might be after your nice home made (and probably moist if it has seedlings in) compost to line their nests with?  I had a similar problem a few years ago, so I made up a dish of 'mud' and put this in the area where they were taking compost from my pots - and they used this instead.   Or maybe they are after food to feed their young - at this time of the year every morning I put out a dish of cat biscuits which I have soaked to make soft and the Blackbirds love these and go off with mouthfuls to feed their young.

[Bjerreby]

Do you think they might be after your nice home made (and probably moist if it has seedlings in) compost to line their nests with?  I had a similar problem a few years ago, so I made up a dish of 'mud' and put this in the area where they were taking compost from my pots - and they used this instead.   Or maybe they are after food to feed their young - at this time of the year every morning I put out a dish of cat biscuits which I have soaked to make soft and the Blackbirds love these and go off with mouthfuls to feed their young.

I think it is a combination of a few things. They definitely use compost to line nests, but I think there is an added bonus, that while collecting compost, they find worms. I have noticed they go for the damp-looking stuff rather than drier compost.

[Eristic]

A bit fiddly but try pebbles.