"John Edgar" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 26 May 2004 13:17:36 +0100, "Bob Holly"

wrote:

Does anyone have any good tips for persuading blackbirds not to
throw bark
mulch over the lawn when foraging in the borders?
With a large garden and a lot of formal beds, the benefits of weed
supression are being offset by the time needed to clear up each
day.
Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

Bob Holly


We had the same problem but they were doing it on the drive. I had
to
go out and give them a stern telling off so that they would stand
the
other way round.

Seriously though we bought some black netting and have spread it
over
the mulching borders, about 18" wide. This has all but put a stop to
it. We get just a bit from a particularly energetic bird who manages
to reach the drive from well into the border. It's not a problem
now.

The netting is about 1/2" square, and you have to look hard to see
it.
I anchored it with hooks made from some redundant old wire that was
lying about.

Just in case you don't know, allowing birds to be trapped in
micronetting is illegal. Judging by your description, yout netting
falls into that category.

Franz