Sparrows picking off the new buds on apple tree

[flowerpots]

Has anyone else had a problem with birds picking off the new buds?

There's a feeder in the tree but they seem to prefer attacking the new growth instead. There's always been a couple of nests beside the tree in the hedge but this is the first year I've noticed them doing this.

Any suggestions to distract their attention from the tree would be very welcome, netting the tree isn't really an option as it's too tall...

Thanks

[quark1]

Remove the feeder from the tree during the budding and setting weeks and place eslewhere.

Although you say they are taking the new growth in preference to your food provision - you are attracting them there in the first place. It won't stop them altogether - but will remove them from the site of discovery in the first place - perhaps saving a few future fruits!

[Alice]

The sparrows are being a nuisance to me too Flowerpots and I've no feeders near their activities.
They're picking the buds off the buddlia and actually pulling the new leaves off the crab apple.
Last year they did the same thing with the peas and sweet peas.

[FB.]

Yes, sparrows and other small birds have eaten or damaged a fair number of my apple blossoms. The only thing that I can suggest is plant a few more apples, so that there's enough blossom for the sparrows to eat, but so many that they can't eat them all, so they'll leave you some blossoms to develop into fruit.

[starloc]

I solved the bird problem by tieing a piece of reflective foil into the tree, no more birds!
I used metalic foil for printing with a hot foil printing press, about 2 inch wide and a foot long.

[flowerpots]

Thanks for the advice! I'll move the feeder and that sounds like a perfect reason to get another apple tree :-D

The silver foil sounds good, but the tree is right beside their nest and I don't want to scare them off from nesting there, I think I'll give it a go on my peas though in case they start on them next...

[FB.]

Are you sure that they're not simply searching for bugs?

[Alice]

I'm sure they're not searching for bugs. I've stood beside them and watched them ripping the leaves off.

[flowerpots]

Same here, there are a couple of buds that are still intact but most have been torn out - you can see them going up and down the branches picking at each one in turn

[Squizz]

We've just moved house and in the garden is a Greengage tree, I was told that it never bears fruit. Now I know why...Pigeons!