Blackbirds
 

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?
Lucy

Blackbirds
 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~stabilising the bark?
~Lucy
~
~
black (coloured) bird netting?


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Blackbirds
 

"Lucy" wrote in message
...
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen
dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to
a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent
paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and
off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a
way of
stabilising the bark?
Lucy

No :~(

Keep a rake or broom handy and sweep up every day :~)
Jenny

Blackbirds
 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

It's either araldite or put up with your feathered friends


--
®óñ© © ²°°³

Blackbirds
 

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Lucy" wrote in message
...
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen
dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to
a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent
paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and
off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a
way of
stabilising the bark?
Lucy

No :~(

Keep a rake or broom handy and sweep up every day :~)
Jenny

I do - but I am getting tired of it!

Blackbirds
 

"jane" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~stabilising the bark?
~Lucy
~
~
black (coloured) bird netting?

I did think of that, but is there a chance of their feet geting entangled?
I am often away for a few days, and I don't really dislike blackbirds...
Lucy

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Blackbirds
 

"Ron Clark" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

It's either araldite or put up with your feathered friends

I think this could be interesting if I could find something cheaper that
araldite! PVA perhaps? I'd need to keep the little beggars off until it
dried, or I might get some unwanted garden ornaments.
Lucy
--
®óñ© © ²°°³

Blackbirds
 

"jane" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~stabilising the bark?
~Lucy
~
~
black (coloured) bird netting?

I had thought of that, but just a bit worried about their feet getting
caught - I am often away for a few days at a time. Anybody tried it?
Lucy
--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Blackbirds
 

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Lucy" wrote in message
...
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen
dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to
a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent
paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and
off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a
way of
stabilising the bark?
Lucy

No :~(

Keep a rake or broom handy and sweep up every day :~)
Jenny

I do! But I am getting tired of it!
Lucy

Blackbirds
 

"Ron Clark" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

It's either araldite or put up with your feathered friends

Araldite is too expensive, I fear. Another adhesive - PVA perhaps?
Whatever, I would need to keep the birds off until it dried, or the result
might be some unwanted ornaments.
Lucy
--
®óñ© © ²°°³

Blackbirds
 

Are onmaps all the preceding stuff? If so, sorry about my last reply! I am a
bit new to newsgroups.
Lucy

Blackbirds
 

in article , jane at
wrote on 14/10/03 3:54 pm:

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~stabilising the bark?
~Lucy
~
~
black (coloured) bird netting?

I'm sorry to be contentious but what would that achieve other than trapped
birds?
I'd prefer to have all kinds of crap thrown all over our garden to ensure
the blackbirds and all other kinds of birds keep coming to it. For a start,
they're eating insects that some people will next year have to spray to
kill, for a second they are doing what comes naturally and it is we, who
have a passion for immaculate gardens and squared away, hospital-corner
flower beds who are metaphorically treading on their toes.
Leave the birds alone and be glad to have them - all too many are now
disappearing.
--

Sacha
(remove the 'x' to email me)

Blackbirds
 

In article , Lucy
writes
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

Don't bother with the bark, buy a sparrowhawk image from an
RSPB place and hang it above the bark - it will keep the birds away.
--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms
at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see

Blackbirds
 

Lucy wrote:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?


We also use bark, and also have blackbirds.. They do seem particlularly
active at this time of year.. Messy little sods aren;t they.. I sweep
up now and then when the path starts to dissapear a bit!-)

We also have foxes, cats and god know what else..

No real answer that I've found.. Use a different, less B'bird attractive
mulch, mebbe? The sign of food for them is a good thing anyway, shows
that there's life there!. Better thana concrete desert IMO!-)

//
Jim

Blackbirds
 

"Jim W" wrote in message
news:1g2u1if.bgcaklps1342N%00senetnospamtodayta@ma cunlimited.net...
Lucy wrote:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark but the blackbirds are throwing
it all over the adjacent paving

We also have foxes, cats and god know what else..

Same here. The blackbirds have great fun tossing the bark around, but I
don't really mind.
But the foxes burrow under the bark and then shred the weed control fabric
underneath. That I DO mind!
But I mustn't do anything to upset the little darlings 'cos my neighbour
feeds them every evening. (I must confess it is lovely to watch the vixen
and her cubs coming up to the conservatory to feed - often followed by our
two Burmese cats)

Blackbirds
 

The message
from "Lucy" contains these words:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

Concrete. You could paint it to look like fallen leaves.

Janet.

Blackbirds
 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 16:28:12 +0100, Janet Baraclough
wrote:

The message
from "Lucy" contains these words:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

Concrete. You could paint it to look like fallen leaves.

or even Chatsworth House?
--
Martin

Blackbirds
 

"Lucy" wrote in message
...
Are onmaps all the preceding stuff? If so, sorry about my last reply! I am
a
bit new to newsgroups.

I have never heard of onmaps and I have been playing in newsgroups for about
twenty years, when they were still called bulletin boards and when the net
was not yet a public facility. .
The stuff at the top are known as headers. Please don't remove them,
because they tell you and me who said what when.

Later, when you have had some experience of playing in newsgroups, and have
learnt how to snip irrelevant stuff, you will develop a feeling for when it
is safe to remove the odd header here and there without spoiling the
integrity of a thread.

Franz

Blackbirds
 

"jane" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~stabilising the bark?
~Lucy
~
~
black (coloured) bird netting?

That is very bad. You might get blackbirds and thrushed caught up in them.
The truth is that there is no so;ution for the problem of birds throwing
mulches around. It is just one of the features of gardening.

Franz

Blackbirds
 

"Lucy" wrote in message
...


Araldite is too expensive, I fear. Another adhesive - PVA perhaps?
Whatever, I would need to keep the birds off until it dried, or the result
might be some unwanted ornaments.
Lucy
--
You might be right there Lucy.....mix PVA with 50% water and apply with a
watering can. It might bind the bark together. It is used in the building
trade to bind loose flakey walls before plastering so give it a try! (Small
sample area first.!!!! )

Blackbirds
 

what about a plastic cat :-) like the plastic hawk but more cat shaped.

dont string it up either, sit it under the bushes.

clanger

"Lucy" wrote in message
...
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?
Lucy

Blackbirds
 

Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:170912

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 20:49:27 +0100, "gitfinger"
wrote:


"Lucy" wrote in message
...


Araldite is too expensive, I fear. Another adhesive - PVA perhaps?
Whatever, I would need to keep the birds off until it dried, or the result
might be some unwanted ornaments.
Lucy
--
You might be right there Lucy.....mix PVA with 50% water and apply with a
watering can. It might bind the bark together. It is used in the building
trade to bind loose flakey walls before plastering so give it a try! (Small
sample area first.!!!! )

You could buy epoxy in a larger quantity, International Epiglas from a
chandlers, for example. Araldite is an epoxy resin.

--
Martin

Blackbirds
 

In article ,
(Lucy) wrote:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen
dead leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up
to a point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent
paving as they search for insects.


Wretched, isn't it! There are a few things you can do:

1. Plan so that there is a distance of at least 3' between the stem of
the plant you want to mulch and the path you *don't* want to mulch.
Mulch the plant to a radius of 2'. This will:

a) Greatly reduce the debris reaching the path
b) Keep the plant reasonably well mulched as the birds redistribute the
bark.

2. Use a pale coloured mulch such as year old bark or gravel. The birds
seem to go for dark brown.

3. Erect a barrier between the bark and the path. A gravel board
80-100mm seems to work. Two reasons:

a) The birds tend to throw away from barriers
b) It seems to stop a lot of what they do throw going further.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com

Blackbirds
 

"gitfinger" wrote in message
...

"Lucy" wrote in message
...


Araldite is too expensive, I fear. Another adhesive - PVA perhaps?
Whatever, I would need to keep the birds off until it dried, or the
result
might be some unwanted ornaments.
Lucy
--
You might be right there Lucy.....mix PVA with 50% water and apply with a
watering can. It might bind the bark together. It is used in the building
trade to bind loose flakey walls before plastering so give it a try!
(Small
sample area first.!!!! )

That would not be clever. PVA does not rot at a reasonable rate and it will
coat the bark, thus sealing a large part of the surface against entry of
rotting agents.

Franz

Blackbirds
 

"...........Does anyone know of a way of stabilising the bark? ....."
Don't bother.....
Just take 4 and 20 of the birds, bake in a pie.
If the birds begin to sing when the pie is open then the oven wasn't hot
enough.....


--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

Blackbirds
 

The message
from martin contains these words:

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 16:28:12 +0100, Janet Baraclough
wrote:

The message
from "Lucy" contains these words:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

Concrete. You could paint it to look like fallen leaves.

or even Chatsworth House?

Chatsworth House wouldn't fit under a pyracantha.

Janet

Blackbirds
 

in article , Janet Baraclough at
wrote on 14/10/03 10:46 pm:

The message
from martin contains these words:

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 16:28:12 +0100, Janet Baraclough
wrote:

The message
from "Lucy" contains these words:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
stabilising the bark?

Concrete. You could paint it to look like fallen leaves.

or even Chatsworth House?

Chatsworth House wouldn't fit under a pyracantha.

Janet

No but it would be interesting to hear 'Debo's' views on getting rid of
blackbirds......
--

Sacha
(remove the 'x' to email me)

Blackbirds
 

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"gitfinger" wrote in message
...

"Lucy" wrote in message
...


Araldite is too expensive, I fear. Another adhesive - PVA perhaps?
Whatever, I would need to keep the birds off until it dried, or the
result
might be some unwanted ornaments.
Lucy
--
You might be right there Lucy.....mix PVA with 50% water and apply with
a
watering can. It might bind the bark together. It is used in the
building
trade to bind loose flakey walls before plastering so give it a try!
(Small
sample area first.!!!! )

That would not be clever. PVA does not rot at a reasonable rate and it
will
coat the bark, thus sealing a large part of the surface against entry of
rotting agents.

Franz

I'm not sure that I want the bark to rot too fast!
Lucy

Blackbirds
 

"Clanger" wrote in message
...
what about a plastic cat :-) like the plastic hawk but more cat shaped.

dont string it up either, sit it under the bushes.

clanger
Worth try. A sparrowhawk would give our cat the screaming abdabs - she is
even wary of the blackbirds...

"Lucy" wrote in message
...
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving
as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way
of
stabilising the bark?
Lucy

Blackbirds
 

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Lucy) wrote:

I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen
dead leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up
to a point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent
paving as they search for insects.


Wretched, isn't it! There are a few things you can do:

1. Plan so that there is a distance of at least 3' between the stem of
the plant you want to mulch and the path you *don't* want to mulch.
Mulch the plant to a radius of 2'. This will:

a) Greatly reduce the debris reaching the path
b) Keep the plant reasonably well mulched as the birds redistribute the
bark.

2. Use a pale coloured mulch such as year old bark or gravel. The birds
seem to go for dark brown.

3. Erect a barrier between the bark and the path. A gravel board
80-100mm seems to work. Two reasons:

a) The birds tend to throw away from barriers
b) It seems to stop a lot of what they do throw going further.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com

I have a 75 mm barrier - I guess I could raise it a bit. I hope you are
right about the year-old mulch, 'cos it has been down about six months now.
Lucy

Blackbirds
 

Thanks to everyone for the reponses. Even the Chatsworth idea got
consideration, but had to be abandoned because of planning regs.

Lucy

Blackbirds
 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 23:25:31 +0100, "David Hill"
wrote:

"...........Does anyone know of a way of stabilising the bark? ....."
Don't bother.....
Just take 4 and 20 of the birds, bake in a pie.
If the birds begin to sing when the pie is open then the oven wasn't hot
enough.....

.... and watch out for your nose, if you are hanging out the clothes.
--
Martin

Blackbirds
 

"Lucy" wrote in message
...

"Clanger" wrote in message
...
what about a plastic cat :-) like the plastic hawk but more cat shaped.

dont string it up either, sit it under the bushes.

clanger
Worth try. A sparrowhawk would give our cat the screaming abdabs - she
is
even wary of the blackbirds...

"Lucy" wrote in message
...
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen
dead
leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving
as
they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and
off
until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way
of
stabilising the bark?
Lucy

If I may be a pedantic old bo
Lucy, did you muck about with adding or subtracting attribution marks?
( "" and suchlike?)
The last post from you looked as if you did.
Please, never tough them and make sure you put your contribution on a new
line, clear of attribution marks.

Franz

Blackbirds
 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 19:47:00 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

~
~"jane" wrote in message
...
~ On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:
~
~ ~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~ ~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~ ~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~ ~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~ ~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~ ~stabilising the bark?
~ ~Lucy
~ ~
~ ~
~ black (coloured) bird netting?
~
~That is very bad. You might get blackbirds and thrushed caught up in them.
~The truth is that there is no so;ution for the problem of birds throwing
~mulches around. It is just one of the features of gardening.

I *did* wonder about them getting caught before suggesting it, but then
thought why do they sell it as netting to keep birds off fruit - so they
must be able to get free. Hence the suggestion had a ? in it.

I've never found a bird caught apart from one that got under some very fine
green plastic mesh while scrumping next door's gooseberries, and even that
got out fast when it heard me coming...




--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Blackbirds
 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 16:48:05 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:

~Are onmaps all the preceding stuff? If so, sorry about my last reply! I am a
~bit new to newsgroups.
~Lucy
~
~
If you reply direct to me and not the group, you'll see in my email address
the made-up word onmaps, which is no spam backwards (with the words in the
right order). You need to edit the addy to get it to work. Never put your
real address in a header or posting (and heaven forbid a snail addy!) as it
just means you'll get snowed under in spam.

Just my weird antispam measure. Lots of folk have them to stop harvestng of
email addys by spambots: some are very clever and funny. Likewise for
posting signatures: there are some beauts in this group!


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Blackbirds
 

in article , jane at
wrote on 15/10/03 11:03 pm:

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 19:47:00 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

~
~"jane" wrote in message
...
~ On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:
~
~ ~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~ ~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~ ~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~ ~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~ ~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~ ~stabilising the bark?
~ ~Lucy
~ ~
~ ~
~ black (coloured) bird netting?
~
~That is very bad. You might get blackbirds and thrushed caught up in them.
~The truth is that there is no so;ution for the problem of birds throwing
~mulches around. It is just one of the features of gardening.

I *did* wonder about them getting caught before suggesting it, but then
thought why do they sell it as netting to keep birds off fruit - so they
must be able to get free. Hence the suggestion had a ? in it.

I've never found a bird caught apart from one that got under some very fine
green plastic mesh while scrumping next door's gooseberries, and even that
got out fast when it heard me coming...



Not being a black bird, I can't speak for them but birds that land on the
ground haven't seen the mesh in the same way as birds see it, stretched out
over e.g. fruit cages. I have seen a sparrowhawk in our own garden, perched
on top of the dovecote peering at the doves inside the netting. I've seen
another (or maybe the same) sparrowhawk, on the ground entangled in the
netting.

--

Sacha
(remove the 'x' to email me)

Blackbirds
 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 17:53:51 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

~in article , jane at
wrote on 14/10/03 3:54 pm:
~
~ On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:
~
~ ~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~ ~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~ ~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~ ~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~ ~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~ ~stabilising the bark?
~ ~Lucy
~ ~
~ ~
~ black (coloured) bird netting?
~
~I'm sorry to be contentious but what would that achieve other than trapped
~birds?

See my answer above for qualification - it is sold as bird netting after
all, and nobody seems to think about this when discussing fruit cages etc.

~I'd prefer to have all kinds of crap thrown all over our garden to ensure
~the blackbirds and all other kinds of birds keep coming to it. For a start,
~they're eating insects that some people will next year have to spray to
~kill, for a second they are doing what comes naturally and it is we, who
~have a passion for immaculate gardens and squared away, hospital-corner
~flower beds who are metaphorically treading on their toes.
~Leave the birds alone and be glad to have them - all too many are now
~disappearing.

I mowed the lawn and did the rake-over of parts of it on Sunday. While
taking a breather I realised I'd got a robin sitting on the bench opposite.
Immaculate feathers (after the last time I saw it, where it looked like it
had been through a tumble drier). It hopped onto the lawn, grabbed and ate
a tiny green caterpillar and hopped back up to the bench. Repeated this for
some 10 minutes, including sitting on the mower handle, giving me several
patches of extra nitrogen and helping with yet more pest control.

Made it a magical moment. I was about 6' away, wishing the camera was
outside...

This is the first year I've avoided slug pellets in the garden as well as
the allotment, and I'm convinced the wildlife is doing better already.

Must put some new fatballs out this week. The bluetits go through them like
motorised beaks...


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Blackbirds
 

Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:171086

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 23:20:19 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

~in article , jane at
wrote on 15/10/03 11:03 pm:
~
~ On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 19:47:00 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
~ wrote:
~
~ ~
~ ~"jane" wrote in message
~ ...
~ ~ On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:
~ ~
~ ~ ~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~ ~ ~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~ ~ ~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~ ~ ~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~ ~ ~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~ ~ ~stabilising the bark?
~ ~ ~Lucy
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~
~ ~ black (coloured) bird netting?
~ ~
~ ~That is very bad. You might get blackbirds and thrushed caught up in them.
~ ~The truth is that there is no so;ution for the problem of birds throwing
~ ~mulches around. It is just one of the features of gardening.
~
~ I *did* wonder about them getting caught before suggesting it, but then
~ thought why do they sell it as netting to keep birds off fruit - so they
~ must be able to get free. Hence the suggestion had a ? in it.
~
~ I've never found a bird caught apart from one that got under some very fine
~ green plastic mesh while scrumping next door's gooseberries, and even that
~ got out fast when it heard me coming...
~
~
~
~Not being a black bird, I can't speak for them but birds that land on the
~ground haven't seen the mesh in the same way as birds see it, stretched out
~over e.g. fruit cages. I have seen a sparrowhawk in our own garden, perched
~on top of the dovecote peering at the doves inside the netting. I've seen
~another (or maybe the same) sparrowhawk, on the ground entangled in the
~netting.

True - in that case I could perhaps refine the suggestion. If it's not too
big a patch of bark, perhaps chickenwire sprayed a dark colour might work
as they couldn't get tangled up in it. I'm just trying to come up with an
answer to the question. I have a lot of rigid plastic garden mesh and the
like on bare soil about the place, but that's to stop excavations by the
local c*ts and birds definitely don't get caught in that.

For that matter, the vertical stick method of keeping off the c*ts also
might work for keeping off blackbirds if the sticks are close enough, but I
suspect it would look rather odd!


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Blackbirds
 

"jane" wrote in message
...

[snip]

I *did* wonder about them getting caught before suggesting it, but then
thought why do they sell it as netting to keep birds off fruit - so they
must be able to get free. Hence the suggestion had a ? in it.

I've never found a bird caught apart from one that got under some very
fine
green plastic mesh while scrumping next door's gooseberries, and even that
got out fast when it heard me coming...

....To do some scrumping yourself?

Franz

Blackbirds
 

On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 07:44:48 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

~
~"jane" wrote in message
...
~
~[snip]
~
~ I *did* wonder about them getting caught before suggesting it, but then
~ thought why do they sell it as netting to keep birds off fruit - so they
~ must be able to get free. Hence the suggestion had a ? in it.
~
~ I've never found a bird caught apart from one that got under some very
~fine
~ green plastic mesh while scrumping next door's gooseberries, and even that
~ got out fast when it heard me coming...
~
~...To do some scrumping yourself?

:-P

Have my own goosegogs thanks, and they weren't netted, and the darn
birdies got the lot this year. I was Not Pleased. Last year I got
25lbs... Then again last year I lost all my blackcurrants to said
wretched birds, and this year I had loads.

You win some, you lose some.

The trick is to grow plenty for both yourself and the feathered ones.
(Though I draw the line at feeding the ruddy woodpigeons and net all
my brassicas! Wish a peregrine would take up residence, I really
do...)

I'm currently hoping that the nestbox I've put up in the Bramley will
get me more feathered pesteaters for next year. Bluetit chicks eat a
*phenomenal* amount.


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!