Birds are a vital component of any garden, providing colour, melody, and invaluable pest control services. However, larger birds such as pigeons can swiftly become problematic if permitted to wander freely amongst your garden produce.
These creatures delight in uprooting fresh seedlings and devouring the tender tops of brassicas. It is against the law to kill pigeons or any other wild bird species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. This legislation means these nuisances can only be deterred, with specialists at Pest Solutions advocating one particular natural technique involving CDs.
They explained: “Magpies might like shiny things, but most birds, like pigeons, will steer well clear of your garden if you have any reflective object. Hanging old CDs on a string that will move in the wind can be surprisingly effective at scaring off pigeons.”
When sunlight strikes the reflective surface, it produces a prism effect that disrupts pigeons’ vision. Exasperated with pigeons soiling her garden furniture, Rachel documented on her blog, The Ponds Farm, how to utilise CDs as a deterrent.
She revealed: “We have tried several bird-repellent devices, and some work for a while. However, since we made our DIY bird scare device, we have not had to clean a single chair.”
Initially, you will require two CDs and fishing line or some form of string, then drill a small hole in the CDs. The smaller hole at the top allows them to spin faster.
To create an effective bird deterrent, position the CDs with their reflective sides outwards and line up the central holes. Then, secure them by threading around 15 inches of wire through the aligned holes. When deciding where to hang these homemade devices, consider the areas you wish to protect.
Rachel revealed: “We placed them at the openings of our outdoor spaces. We have not had a drop of bird poop on our chairs since they were installed.”
