Strawberries and blackbirds,

[greenishfing]

I've got quite a lot of strawberry plants. I used to net them but the blackbirds still managed to pinch a few and I used to get myself in a knot with the netting so for the last few years I've left them uncovered.

I don't begrudge the blackbirds a few and if they have started pecking one I leave it on the plant with the, probably naïve, belief they'll keep attacking the same one.

The last few days though they have really been chirruping at me when I have been picking. Obviously they don't want to share.

They are already eyeing up the morello cherry tree. That will get a net.

Having thought about it I know that blackbirds love fruit and worms but do they eat any pests in the garden?

[yummersetter]

I don't know, but every spring I get pretty upset at the massacre of the fledgling blackbirds by our neighbouring rooks. Until the strawberries are ripening.

[cheops]

Blackbirds will eat both slugs and snails. They also eat the larvae of wireworms which of course destroy many vegetables. Wireworm larvae are yellow/orange and may take four years to pupate.

[mothhawk]

They will, of course, also help themselves to your worms, but on the bright side they are beautiful to look at, have the most perfect song, and leave little dollops of fertiliser right there among the plants