On 30/5/04 9:31 am, in article ,
"John Edgar" wrote:



And you will quite possibly have trapped, injured and dead birds in the
netting. All because some mulch gets thrown around? The blackbirds are
searching for and eating pests that will attack the very plants you are
trying to protect. Does a perfectly tidy, manicured, practically hoovered
garden make up for more pests and dead birds? ;-)


Frankly I think this is a bit of an over-reaction. Firstly I have seen
no dead birds anywhere. Secondly the netting is only about 12" to 18"
wide - it is just where the mulch comes up to the drive. They have the
rest of the beds to go over at their own will and pleasure which they
do extensively. I don't care 2 hoots what they do there and they are
welcome to find whatever they want.
John
In limine sapientiae

You may not like my remarks or those of others who have said the same but
that doesn't make them incorrect. Birds DO get trapped in such netting,
panic and die. Things that they eat which are pests to your plants will live
in that mulch and you won't have the benefit of your pest controllers.
I had fishing line - not netting - stretched around the perimeter of a pond
to deter herons. I rescued two blackbirds just from that single line
because they'd managed to get a foot or wing across it somehow.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds after garden to email me)