For the vegetable gardener, warm days signal the return of that old nemesis: the ravenous birds.  From now on, it’s a race between you and them. And the prize is getting to eat all those juicy, yummy crops that you planted with your own hands, perhaps from the seeds bought on bidorbuy.

Alas, the race is unequal from the outset, because (a) birds are less choosy and will munch on peas, peppers or tomatoes that you do not consider ripe enough for consumption, and (b) birds do not have to go to the office and have much more time than you to gorge on all that abundance.

Keeping the birds from snacking on your veggies can become an obsession. Nothing seems to work. At least not for a longer period of time. For all their “bird brains”, those winged creatures are actually quite clever. They quickly learn to distinguish between real and make-believe threat. That is why scarecrows or statues of owls will quickly cease to be a deterrent and become a favourite congregation spot for a whole flock.

However, there is high-tech method that’s more effective than the traditional ones. Birds dislike shiny, moving objects, and that feature of bird psychology makes old optical media discs a formidable weapon that gives you a distinct advantage in the afore-mentioned race.

You can fashion your disc-scarecrow in countless ways. The cleverly designed stand pictured here is perhaps the least obtrusive from the human point of view. The stand is made with a piece of wood, half a coat hanger, a fishing swivel, a piece of line and a CD disc. The disc swivels in the wind and flashes, scaring the birds away. Hopefully, it will keep scaring them for as long as it takes your veggies to ripen. (We offer no guarantees.)

Environmental note:

Even if you decide not to dot your garden with unwanted discs, do remember never to throw them into a dustbin. There are hundreds of ways to re-use old discs, and each and every one of them is better than polluting the environment (which happens when they end up in a landfill). Search the internet for ideas. If you still have redundant discs left over, take them to the nearest recycling plant. It’s worth the effort.

Avian note:

While admittedly pro-plant, this post is by no means meant to be anti-bird. Our objective is to show you ways of discouraging birds from eating your plants (vegetables, but also decorative plants like Echeveria). That, in its turn, should prompt the birds to eat more of those pesky insects that reside in your garden. So, everyone can be happy!