Runner Beans - Anti Sparrow advice please!

[moreteavicar]

First year in new home, first year gardening since - more years than I care to count.
Wife has been doing a Mary Poppins and we now have hordes of House Sparrats visiting the garden.
With an eye to the summer and my intention to produce Runner Beans on an industrial scale, avian interference is at the forefront of my mind.
Having grown up in the country and yet- not having grown up – and having possessed many during my younger years, my suggestion was I buy an air rifle .
My wife expressed some concern at this course of action…….. (quite vehemently in fact).

Is it possible there is a less drastic course of action to prevent flower decimation?

[Greenleaves]

Grow varieties with white flowers

[Small pumpkin]

Grow enough so you can share with the sparrows.

[Jungle Jane]

Birds also like dahlia petals I think,or are the flower petals falling off because of them eating aphids I don’t know but have plenty growing to share with nature,it’s easier than fighting against,sparrows & other birds forage for food they don’t understand. Four sparrows were flying about on my peas the other day & I noticed the seed feeder was empty (the seed feeders can never be empty again )

[Logunner]

First year in new home, first year gardening since - more years than I care to count.
Wife has been doing a Mary Poppins and we now have hordes of House Sparrats visiting the garden.
With an eye to the summer and my intention to produce Runner Beans on an industrial scale, avian interference is at the forefront of my mind.
Having grown up in the country and yet- not having grown up – and having possessed many during my younger years, my suggestion was I buy an air rifle .
My wife expressed some concern at this course of action…….. (quite vehemently in fact).

Is it possible there is a less drastic course of action to prevent flower decimation?

Sparrows are not on ‘general licence’ and therefore illegal to shoot.

Pigeons however, are!

[moreteavicar]

I know - it's called "irony".

[veggiechicken]

Unfortunately, there have been some members who want to shoot/trap anything that moves and we cannot condone that here. Any posts that suggest cruelty (whether as a so-called joke or not) will be moderated.
Just saying!

[moreteavicar]

Ordering some netting

[Urban]

Just let nature get on with it. You'll get more runner beans than you can eat anyway

[roitelet]

Hang up some old CDs so they move in the wind.