Most people love to wake up to birds singing in the morning. Some homeowners have made lovely perches for the birds in their yards. However, having too many birds visit your garden or yard can be annoying.
In most states, it is against the law to kill some bird species, relocate, destroy, or disturb their nests. You must then look for more humane ways to keep birds away. A question, though: Will fake snakes keep birds away?
Well, it’s a method worth investigating. This article will tell you if fake snakes keep birds away. It will be interesting to learn what else scares birds. More on whether fake owls, peppermint, wind chimes, mothballs, and which smells will keep birds away. Learn also which home remedies you can use.
Will Rubber Snakes Keep Birds Away?
Yes, rubber snakes will keep birds away. The fact that snakes feed on birds and their eggs is enough reason to make birds wary of them. A bird’s initial perception of a rubber snake is that it is genuine and will run away. But to give the rubber snake a more realistic appearance, place it where even a moderate breeze would cause it to move.
Even though you can recycle an old garden hose or a damaged bicycle tube, they might not appear realistic. Remember that birds are brilliant, and they might realize immediately that the fake snake isn’t real. On the other hand, you can get some realistic rubber snakes online. Buy rubber snakes that resemble real ones typically seen in your region.
You should put the rubber snake in a realistic-looking posture to increase its impact. Every few days, move the rubber snake to a new spot. Hang the rubber snake from trees and plants so a gentle breeze can move it.
What Will Scare Birds Away?
Rubber snakes do an excellent job of keeping birds away. But this is just a short-term solution. The birds will eventually realize there aren’t any actual snakes in your garden or yard. Several anti-bird products, however, will frighten birds away. The product must startle the bird enough for it to fly away.
Let’s look at a few more things that will scare birds away:
1. Predators
Birds inherently fear danger, so they flee when they spot a predator nearby. Falconry, a natural method, is one of the most efficient ways to keep birds away. Falconry uses birds of prey, such as hawks, to frighten smaller birds into taking flight. Predator birds use intimidation and fear to drive away unwanted bird species.
You can also use owls and cats as predators. Birds will avoid your pet cat if they see it. If you don’t have real animals, you can put fake ones made of metal, wood, or any other material that can resist weather elements. Every few days, move the fake objects around.
2. Anti-bird spikes
Metal or plastic are used to make anti-bird spikes. The birds find them unpleasant landing areas because the spikes have long, upward-pointing points that resemble needles. The spikes can be mounted on roofs, ledges, and gutters. Although they won’t hurt the birds, they discourage the birds from landing on them. Birds are observant and will avoid the spikes by flying away after spotting them before they land.
3. Shiny objects
Many people have never realized that birds inherently fear shiny or reflective surfaces. However, birds avoid landing in areas with those two surfaces. The reason is that birds appear to be terrified of their reflection. Aluminum or reflective tape are both suitable.
4. Garden balls
Large, colorful garden balls can be hung from trees, poles, or fence posts or placed in your garden. Birds will confuse them with eyes and keep off. The balls will also be lovely decorations for your yard.
Do Fake Owls Work To Keep Birds Away?
Owls are bird predators and will work to keep birds away. Other birds avoid regions where owls are prominent. Wherever nuisance birds nest or seem to like roosting, you can use fake owls. Because they are so visual, birds will avoid an area if they see an owl, whether it is genuine or not. The birds might also consider making new nests elsewhere.
Some fake owls have moving heads and eyes, making them appear like real birds. When they detect a motion nearby motion, some fake owls make noise. But ensure the noise is not too loud to avoid getting in trouble with the neighbors.
Will Mothballs Keep Birds Away?
Mothballs are chemical products that will keep birds away. The balls, made of a combination of toxic chemicals, are mainly used to kill bugs.
Mothballs produce poisonous gas when exposed to air. Birds don’t like their strong scent, which is intense. You can keep the birds away from your porch, yard, or garden by scattering a few mothballs around. But given that the mothballs poison birds, are you prepared to do so?
Although using mothballs to repel birds is effective, it is not the most humane approach. The mothballs will cause the birds to vomit, lose their appetite, and have seizures and shaking if they ingest them. Birds are most likely to die from the mothballs’ fumes.
Will Wind Chimes Keep Birds Away?
Sudden movements and loud noises frighten birds. An excellent alternative to use when attempting to repel birds is wind chimes. Some birds avoid the wind chimes since they make such an unpleasant noise. But the type of wind chime and how you install it will also play a role. Birds will be attracted to some wind chimes while being repelled by others.
The loud sound made by some wind chimes will scare the birds. Other wind chimes have sweet twinkling music that will attract the birds. So when installing wind chimes to keep the birds away, ensure the chimes have the following features:
- Use wind chimes that make a lot of noise.
- Get chimes with reflective materials.
- Place the wind chimes in areas with more wind.
Does Peppermint Oil Repel Birds?
Peppermint oil does an excellent job of repelling birds, and they will take flight once they smell its scent. It’s the best natural repellent, primarily if you use 100% organic peppermint oil. Since the oil has a pleasant smell to people, you won’t mind sprinkling it all over your yard. Thankfully, birds don’t like the smell of it.
In addition to having a pleasant scent, peppermint oil is safe for humans and birds. You can make a simple mixture using peppermint oil. Here is a peppermint mixture that will give the best results.
- 7 drops of peppermint oil
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 7 drops of lemon oil
Spray the places where the birds should not be with the mixture after preparing it. You could also soak cotton balls in the solution and place them around where birds frequent. To prevent the scent from fading over time, reapply the mixture to the cotton balls regularly.
What Smell Keeps Birds Away?
Birds avoid areas with strong odors. Natural ingredients like vinegar, peppermint, cayenne, chili, garlic, and lemons have strong scents. Since most birds are protected by state law, using smells to deter them is a suitable option. The majority of bird-repelling scents are found in products that are easily made into sprays. An over-the-counter solution with a strong scent that deters birds is named bird gel.
Bird gel irritates a bird’s feet and its sense of smell. It is also sticky. It emits an ultraviolet light that smells and feels like fire to the birds. On the other hand, the bird gel is safe and won’t harm the birds; it will simply irritate them.
Using a mixture of chili and vinegar will keep birds away. Put 20 pieces of green or red chili peppers in a container. Add a cup of vinegar and a half gallon of water. You can warm the mixture in the sun or put it on a stove. When the mixture is ready and cool, you can add it to a spray bottle. Spray where birds tend to roost. Every few days or after rainfall, reapply the spray.
Home Remedies That Keep Birds Away
You don’t need to use expensive measures to deter birds. Some measures won’t cost much because you already have them at home or you don’t need to buy anything extra. Finding ways to deny the birds of the three necessities of life—food, shelter, and water—is the most straightforward and least expensive strategy.
Let us see the various ways you can do that.
1. Remove water
Keeping the birds out of your yard or garden can be challenging if they have access to shelter, water, and food. The presence of water in your yard will attract birds in droves. Some water features include birdbaths, fountains, outdoor showers, ponds, waterfalls, and creeks. To keep the birds away, drain the water feature or cover it.
Ensure water cannot collect on your roof. Birds will be able to drink and wash in these tiny pools.
2. Remove food
Fruits, especially berries, are a favorite meal of birds, so putting them in your garden or yard will give the birds something to eat. The foods your cat eats will also attract the birds.
Since you can’t stop feeding your animals, the best course of action is to find out which seeds birds won’t eat by consulting a local wildlife specialist. Berry-producing fruit trees can be covered with fine metal netting.
Dumpsters and trash bins are places where birds are likely to look for and easily access food. To prevent the birds from getting to the food source, close the trash can lids and secure them. Birds won’t flock to your yard if they can’t get food.
3. Remove shelter
Prune your trees and bushes to eliminate areas where birds can rest and nest. Bird netting will make the birds uncomfortable enough to search for new places to live. Filling in the cracks and holes will help prevent birds from constructing nests on your rooftops. It will also help if your home’s roof is maintained regularly.
Birds can build nests in your home’s wall gaps and cracks. They will stay away if these openings are closed. To keep birds out, shut the doors to the porch and garages.
Conclusion
Not all of the methods mentioned in the article will deter all birds. The best approach is to study the local bird population and determine what will work best. However, you’ll discover that some deterrents are more effective against smaller birds and others against large birds.