I have noticed this too. Seems very odd. We do put feed out for the birds

I've tried alsorts ive evenput green netting over them but had enough I want to look at the buetiful bloom so taking it all off tomorrow sod it! !! Ran out of ideas

On 26/05/2020 00:58, wrote:
I've tried alsorts ive evenput green netting over them but had enough I want to look at the buetiful bloom so taking it all off tomorrow sod it! !! Ran out of ideas

Manyyears ago in my younger days I worked in the local park, and in the
spring we had problems with birds pecking theflowers of the poyanthus so
we used to push in pegs about 9 inches long into the ground so that
about 5 inches was left sticking up then we would weave an iregular
pattern with black cotton, it stoped the birds being able to walk
amongst the plants pecking at random at the flowers. It didn't show
amongst the plants but did work well.

On 5/25/2020 4:58 PM, wrote:

I've tried alsorts ive evenput green netting over them but had enough
I want to look at the buetiful bloom so taking it all off tomorrow
sod it! !! Ran out of ideas

I had a problem with birds damaging my fruit. To stop that, I collected
compact discs that I no longer wanted, drilled a small hole near the
edge of each, and hung them with kite twine in selected places. Even
the slightest breeze makes them turn. With the sun shining -- even hazy
sun on a partially overcast day -- they flash and scare the birds away.

A compact disc will last 2-3 seasons beform the reflective coating
begins to deteriorate. For fruit, I hang them just before the fruit is
ripe; otherwise, the birds might get used to them.

By the way, are you really sure the birds are eating your petunias? Is
it possible that the birds are eating the insects that are eating your
plants? I know that some birds will eat the new leaves of ranunculus,
so I am not saying you are wrong. I am merely suggesting that you
examine your situation more carefully.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary