gooseberries disappeared....or were stolen

[Squash64]

Someone on our site told me that every one of his gooseberries were either stolen, or eaten by something overnight.   
They were not ready to be picked which makes it seem odd that someone would want them. 
Do any birds eat unripe gooseberries?

[Squash64]

[picman]

We had a Magpie that took nearly all our gooseberries  one year , didnt eat them but was seen burying them ... perhaps he's moved north.

[saddad]

If birds did it there will be disgarded berries on the ground...
humans are tidier...  :-X

[Morris]

If birds did it there will be disgarded berries on the ground...
humans are tidier...  :-X

Hmm, in my experience birds can be tidy too  ;)

One year I had a lot on at work & family stuff, and the garden was neglected. I was walking past the goosegogs, which were still little green bullets, and thought 'those will be ready soon, ought to get the nets out'. When I went out with the net about a week or so later, there wasn't a single berry on either plant, nor on the ground, entirely vanished.

It definitely wasn't a human thief as I grow in the back garden, so it must have been the beaked sort.

But then I do have a super-villain type of monster greedy pigeon in my vicinity. I sometimes think the local wildlife believe I am running a snack bar just for them ... ;D

[Ellen K]

Likely to be pigeons, they have been trying to get at mine for a month now.  Even if you throw a net over them, they sit on the plant and pick through the net.  Got to cage them if they are to stand a chance.

[BarriedaleNick]

I do believe this to be the work of my nemeisis - the Wood Pigeon.
I swear I once saw one hold the net up for their mates to get at the berries.

[SMP1704]

Ninja pigeons, magpies and blackbirds ;D ;D

[NightWish]

On my site it's been pigeons stealing the goosberries - we've seen them.  They started off at one corner of the site, and have gradually worked their way across completely stripping the bushes.

[happygardner]

I hate to say this but I havent netted my goosgogs yet and they are still there [perhaps I am tempting fate now]

[ThomsonAS]

In three years I've yet to get a decent crop of gooseberries.  Will have to try netting next year cos I think in my case it's birds rather than people who are the problem.

[Squash64]

Thank you for all the replies.

If I see the chap tomorrow I'll tell him that it was most likely to have been birds.  He has probably been worrying about them being stolen by a person so he should feel slightly better that it was the birds.

[diggerrick]

more than likely its the sky rats,they eat everything. >:(

[Unwashed]

Pheasants eat sloes, so I'm sure they'd love unripe goosegogs.

[Deb P]

I sat today and watched a magpie stroll (literally!) over to my netted brassicas, pull up the edge with its beak and wander in to have a nibble at my kale! I have now renetted and pegged down more firmly, blooming cheek!

[Mrs Gumboot]

I was plotting to see how I could make the squirrel proof bird feeder magpie proof. OH was convinced it was magpies scoffing all the fat balls due to the rate they were going down. After sitting here last night watching five blue tits, two great tits and a sparrow working on them all at once I'm having my doubts!

Think I'll definitely have to go & check my gooseberry bush now mind  ::)

[Normylass]

I think we have SAS birds on our plot, have netted the strawberries and twice now have caught a bird under the netting!!!
They panic like mad as when they get in they can't get out. I had to release them. ;)

[Emagggie]

I hate to say this but I havent netted my goosgogs yet and they are still there [perhaps I am tempting fate now]

Me too, Happy. Closer inspection tomorrow.  ;)

[shirlton]

Picked what was left of ours even if they were not ripe.They will cook up ok.

[gaz2000]

mine went last year by pigeons,overnight

one day i was enjoying one,of many on the bushes..

next day the whole lot was gone lol

[green lily]

My gooseberries have been netted with enviromesh for a couple of months so is every thing else but this year the pigeons have even gone for the blackcurrants and stripped the tops off all the peas. One got caught in a neighbours blackcurrant netting and it was necked double quick. One down and a few hundred to go.... BTWdo they make pigeon traps? ::)