Sparrows wreaking havoc

[Marb67]

Well I am just about up to here with the ever increasing lists of pests that want to destroy what I am growing. For years I have had sparrows and other birds in the garden BUT this year they have decided (despite still feeding them) to peck and eat nearly everything edible I am growing. Sweet peas, peas, kale, salad leaves, runner bean leaves etc. Even netted brassicas they pull the leaves through the holes.

I have never known this to happen until this year. Destructive little s*ds.

[burnie]

Yep and they are even chipping away at our brand new windows(I'm guessing they are after the sealant round the frames)

[Marb67]

Well I just can't believe for the life of me why they are pecking holes in all my kale. Even with netting they are tugging them through with their beaks. Even when ai feed the seed they still do this.

This has NEVER happened in all the years I have grown veg.

[veggiechicken]

Can you keep the netting away from the plants? You need the framework large enough that the net doesn't touch the leaves, even when jumped on by a sparrow.

[burnie]

My peas were getting hammered by house sparrows, a dangling cd frightened them off and the peas are untouched.

[DannyK]

I'll swap your sparrows for my parakeets!

[Marb67]

Yes I imagine parakeets do a lot more damage

[DannyK]

Yes I imagine parakeets do a lot more damage

They'll chop a small apricot in two including the stone! At some time they are going to have to cull them. They do a lot of damage. They chop the buds of roses for no reason other than they are there. I'd hate to think what they'd do to an orchard.

[Yasai]

Morning Marb. Nothing useful to add, I'm afraid. I feel your pain though. It's news to me that squirrels eat tomatoes and courgettes; I've never seen them do it before this growing season. I am picking my toms and ripening them indoors to keep them out of harms way... and am also rescuing toms that have been knocked off the plants just for the heck of it, by the looks of it. There was a time when I thought squirrels were cute.
Looking forward to spending this gloriously sunny day in the garden nonetheless. Have a great day

[chris_m]

Well I just can't believe for the life of me why they are pecking holes in all my kale. Even with netting they are tugging them through with their beaks. Even when ai feed the seed they still do this.

Same here, they've had a good go at my calabrese and cabbages which grew larger than I anticipated when I netted them.
I had thought that the damage was due to the wind rubbing the leaves against the net. I knew the sparrows hung around there because a flock would clear off as soon as I appeared past the fence, but I had thought that they were just using some spare space for a dust bath - until I got round there before they saw me and I spotted one of them on the calabrese.

They won't be doing either next year - I'm converting the patch to four semi-raised beds, so the poor quality sandy soil will be the best part of a foot down under a mixture of manure, compost and decent topsoil and the two beds that will have brassicas in them will be netted with veggiemesh.

[chris_m]

There was a time when I thought squirrels were cute.

Proper British squirrels are - american tree rats are a PITA

[Marb67]

I am wondering if the sparrows will also ruin my potential first crop of plumbs and pears from my newly planted trees (Lidl bought) that I planted early last year.

[chris_m]

I am wondering if the sparrows will also ruin my potential first crop of plumbs and pears from my newly planted trees (Lidl bought) that I planted early last year.

They don't appear interested in the apples on my Bramley tree that also went in early last year.

[Marb67]

They seem to be attacking all my overwintering chard,rocket and other salads when the mini cover blew off. Basically, everything green and edible seems to have been added to their menu (despite feeding them decent bird food) Why would a species that has never been a problem suddenly and drastically change it's habits ?