Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

In article ,
(Fleemo) wrote:

Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

Sparrows are omnivoris & will eat ants, caterpillars, worms, thistleheads,
berries, chickweed, grass-seed, & tender lettuce. The latter isn't their
favorite, though, & they MIGHT not be so much eating it as clipping it
into lengths to line & soften nests, in which case they will stop as soon
as they are brooding.

-paghat the ratgirls

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

I haven't had small birds do any damage to my garden but I've lost count how
many times I've been woken up at the crack of dawn by ravens ripping the
lettuce plants right out. They're not eating them... just ripping them out
and dropping them. And only lettuce. I've never been able to figure it
out. You could try covering the young plants in plastic to make a mini
greenhouse until they are too big for the little birds to damage.
--
Tammie
West of Hornepayne, Ont, Canada
http://community.webshots.com/user/_tammie57

"Fleemo" wrote in message
om...
Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

You could cover them with chicken wire. Chicken wire is, to me, good for
almost anything. Like duct tape.

"Fleemo" wrote in message
om...
Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

You could cover them with chicken wire. Chicken wire is, to me, good for
almost anything. Like duct tape.

"Fleemo" wrote in message
om...
Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Hang some greens on their bird feeder. I've never seen sparrows eating greens,
but I know I feed them to my macaw.

V


On 24 Feb 2003 12:35:43 -0800, (Fleemo) wrote:

Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

In article d0076fa9.0302241235.410cf628
@posting.google.com, says...
:) I found several
:) Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
:) had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
:) lettuce?
:)
:)
We were warned not to feed our Quaker rommaine lettuce
for it would cause it diarrhea. Not sure if it would
react to other lettuce so never chanced it. If other
types of birds are similarly effected to lettuce, maybe
you have the last word by giving them a case of
"Fleemo's revenge"
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Fleemo wrote:

Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

Make a little poly tunnel cover for your lettuce, using Remay and those
flexible poly hoops. Will protect your tender seedlings from birds as well
as any sudden drops in temperature. These are pretty common in most garden
mail order supply catalogs - used often during the growing season to keep
flying egg-laying insects off edible crops as well.

pam - gardengal

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

"Fleemo's Revenge!" I like it! :)

Thanks for all the good suggestions, folks. I do have some chicken
wire on hand as well as hoops to add a little protection. I'll do a
little armor plating first thing tomorrow morning to what's left of my
lettuce bed.

One odd thing I thought I'd mention... I added some iron phosphate
pellets to the garden to protect my seedlings from slugs and snails.
Much to my surprise, these same sparrows were not only munching on my
lettuce, but carrying away these little iron phosphate pellets. I
can't imagine they'd be tasty, and ya can't line a nest with 'em.
Quite puzzling.

-Fleemo

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

shoot the sparrow or kill the plant

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Bird netting at Home Depot costs about $8-$10. It works well for me when
I plant small plants and I use a coat hanger by cutting off the ends as
anchors for the bird netting. I pull it up slightly in the middle and
the squirrels don't like how it interfers with them. Same with birds. I
even use it over my pond which has some 7-8 inch goldfish in it to keep
birds out. I used some rabbit guard to surround the pond and covered the
top with bird netting. Dogs and birds stay out.

JK

Fleemo wrote:
=

Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?
=

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

-- =

J. Kolenovsky, A+, Network +, MCP
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - commercial
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Because the sparrows are small, and if you're good, a .22 works. Otherwise,
a .410 is the choice. If you went to a 12, or even a 20 gauge, there would
be nothing left but feathers. If you are unfortunate to live in city limits,
an air rifle will prove sufficient.

"Fleemo" wrote in message
om...
Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

I've taken great pains to welcome birds into my garden, providing
food, water, and shelter, but I would like to keep my vegetable garden
in tact as much as possible. How can I prevent them from devouring my
lettuce? I tried hanging an audio CD from a string, which was a
recommended method of scaring them out of my raised beds, but it had
no effect on them. Any suggestions?

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

In article ,
says...
:) Because the sparrows are small, and if you're good, a .22 works. Otherwise,
:) a .410 is the choice. If you went to a 12, or even a 20 gauge, there would
:) be nothing left but feathers. If you are unfortunate to live in city limits,
:) an air rifle will prove sufficient.
:)
:)
Well there is that pesky law about causing harm to a
protected bird to get around.
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

I know, it was just a joke. :-D

"Lar" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
:) Because the sparrows are small, and if you're good, a .22 works.
Otherwise,
:) a .410 is the choice. If you went to a 12, or even a 20 gauge, there
would
:) be nothing left but feathers. If you are unfortunate to live in city
limits,
:) an air rifle will prove sufficient.
:)
:)
Well there is that pesky law about causing harm to a
protected bird to get around.
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Lar wrote in message We were warned not to feed our Quaker rommaine lettuce
for it would cause it diarrhea. Not sure if it would
react to other lettuce so never chanced it. If other
types of birds are similarly effected to lettuce, maybe
you have the last word by giving them a case of
"Fleemo's revenge"

i ALWAYS give my pigeons romaine lettuce, and other very green-leafy veggies
because Iceberg lettuce holds NO nutritional value and is almost all water
AND causes diarhia. I have never heard of romaine lettuce causing problems.
Is this true for parrots?
thanks,
E-Man

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

In article e48ef388.0302260757.10ecc7a5
@posting.google.com, says...
:) i ALWAYS give my pigeons romaine lettuce, and other very green-leafy veggies
:) because Iceberg lettuce holds NO nutritional value and is almost all water
:) AND causes diarhia. I have never heard of romaine lettuce causing problems.
:) Is this true for parrots?
:) thanks,
:)
:)
This was the advice of the person who raises these
parrots, and being our first parrot I wasn't going to go
against her suggestion. Other than the lettuce and
dandelion greens what the bird nibbles on is about as
much a varied vegetable diet as the iguana. The only
other warning was that avocados will kill them.
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Thats cool it was a joke because I didn't know sparrows were protected.
I could see people going off course with that if they didn't know.

John wrote:
=

I know, it was just a joke. :-D
=

"Lar" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
Because the sparrows are small, and if you're good, a .22 works.
Otherwise,
a .410 is the choice. If you went to a 12, or even a 20 gauge, there
would
be nothing left but feathers. If you are unfortunate to live in city
limits,
an air rifle will prove sufficient.

Well there is that pesky law about causing harm to a
protected bird to get around.
--
-- =

J. Kolenovsky, A+, Network +, MCP
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - commercial
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

In article , garden@hal-
pc.org says...
:) Thats cool it was a joke because I didn't know sparrows were protected.
:) I could see people going off course with that if they didn't know.
:)
English sparrows aren't protected..swear ya heard an
accent in the chirp.

--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

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I was humoursly replying to this sentence - Well there is that pesky law
about causing harm to a =

protected bird to get around.

So someone tell me the real scoop on this.

1. - Well there is that pesky law... =


2. Are sparrows protected?

3. Now that its brought up, what birds are protected?

Lar wrote:

English sparrows aren't protected..swear ya heard an
accent in the chirp.
??? Huh? =

-- =

J. Kolenovsky, A+, Network +, MCP
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - commercial
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

In article , garden@hal-
pc.org says...
:) 3. Now that its brought up, what birds are protected?
:)
:)
You could probably go to your states Parks and Wildlife
website to hunt down the answer for your area. The
Migratory Bird Treaty Act has a sub chapter including
insectivorous birds. Along with various laws protecting
birds of prey, shore/sea birds, etc. pretty much make
all native birds protected.
In Texas all birds, with four general exceptions, one
may not have in possesion, harm, or disturb (even a
collected tail feather or an abandoned nest in possesion
is technically a crime). The exceptions are English
sparrow, starling, pigeon and domestic fowl. Other
exceptions would be game birds regulated by the state.
New Mexico also provides for protection of insectivours,
not sure if that would cover the starling and E sparrow.
Alabama can be read as all wild birds where Vermont
states "native birds".
--
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

Fleemo wrote:

Yesterday I planted some lettuce seedlings in the garden, only to find
them serving as a tempting salad for the birds. I found several
Rufous-crowned Sparrows devouring my lettuce plants this morning. I
had no idea the birds were herbacious! Fruits and nuts, sure. But
lettuce?

They eat many garden plants, seem to particularly love the snow peas
and snap peas and even beet leaves. They eat the peas and the plant's
leaves, just mow them down.

We've used chicken wire and nylon netting. The chicken wire was
originally to keep the groundhog and rabbits out but it's served
as a good anchor for the netting to keep the birds out. The birds
still hang all over the chicken wire and clip off every pea pod or
leaf they can reach.

We had a budgie that would just go crazy over celery leaves and
oranges. Had to watch him very closely that he didn't get at the
house plants as many of those will make them ill.

Now if chicken wire and netting were enough to keep the squirrels
out. They ripped up the beet leaves and the tomatoes last summer.

Ann

Sparrows Devouring Lettuce Plants!
 

maybe they are doing what geese do... weeding?

"bthache" wrote:
I haven't had small birds do any damage to my garden but I've lost count how
many times I've been woken up at the crack of dawn by ravens ripping the
lettuce plants right out. They're not eating them... just ripping them out
and dropping them. And only lettuce. I've never been able to figure it
out. You could try covering the young plants in plastic to make a mini
greenhouse until they are too big for the little birds to damage.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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