Hungry birds plundering the orchard and vegetable garden or pigeons nesting in the shed: Birds get on the nerves of many house and farm owners, especially since some of them also cause a lot of dirt. With a scarecrow - also known as a bird scare - you drive away the unwanted visitors. Read our article to find out what options there are and what you should look out for when making a purchase.
Reflective keeps birds away
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Herefun 2 Pack Bird Scare Reflective Owl Bird Scare Bird Repellent Bird Scare Owl Double Sided Reflective with Bell
12.99 EUR To the product| functionality | reflective owl figures, bells |
|---|---|
| batteries | unnecessary |
| Dimensions | 41 X 21 centimeters |
| Weight | approx. 100 grams |
| Assembly | Suspension, no assembly |
These two owl figures made of reflective vinyl are inexpensive, effective against pigeons, crows and other birds and completely harmless to the animals. You simply hang the figures on the balcony or in the fruit tree and the twinkling and jingling bells keep the birds from settling down in the undesired place. The prerequisite for good functioning is that the figures are freely hung up in a sunny place, since the reflective material dazzles the birds and the owl shape moving in the wind reminds of the feared birds of prey. In their Amazon reviews, many customers are very satisfied with this product and report finally bird-free balconies etc.
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De-Bird - bird deterrent, pigeon deterrent reflective tape - to deter birds, deter pigeons - effective protection against pigeons, geese - silver 38 m
To the product| functionality | reflective material |
|---|---|
| batteries | unnecessary |
| Dimensions | 37 meters long, 6 centimeters wide |
| Weight | k. A |
| Assembly | Binding, no assembly |
This reflector tape works according to the same principle as the owl figures, from which you simply cut strips and attach them above the surfaces or objects to be protected from birds. The important thing here is that the ribbons need to hang in the sun and flutter freely - don't stick them to any surfaces! As it moves, the highly sunlight-reflecting material creates alternating flashes of light that confuse and disorient the birds. Pigeons, swallows, great spotted woodpeckers, sparrows, crows and other birds are finally effectively kept away from the house and balcony - the numerous positive customer reviews on Amazon speak for themselves in this regard. Attention: The material is not self-adhesive, even if the manufacturer calls it "tape".
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Cocoarm bird deterrent hawk scarecrow bird deterrent kite with telescopic rod natural pest control protection against annoying birds black (5m)
To the product| functionality | flying bird of prey |
|---|---|
| batteries | unnecessary |
| Dimensions | 120 cm wingspan |
| Weight | approx. 1 kilogram |
| Assembly | Suspension on telescopic rod |
This hawk is mounted on the included telescopic rod so that it can move freely, encouraging pigeons and other birds to flee. It is important that the figure moves with the wind, since the birds quickly get used to rigid objects and no longer react to them. The figure is a lifelike bird of prey size and is made from a lightweight and durable nylon webbing. The telescopic rod is made of glass steel and allows the hawk to fly through the air like a kite. In their Amazon reviews, many customers are satisfied and report good results. In addition, no animals are harmed by this product.
Purchase Criteria
functionality
ultrasonic devices: Electronic bird repellers emit 24/7 ultrasonic tones that are said to make birds uncomfortable and therefore scare them away. However, experience shows that these devices often do not fulfill their purpose - pigeons in particular are not at all disturbed by ultrasonic devices.
dummies of raptors: Mock raptors - mostly crows, ravens, owls or hawks - rely on the raptor shape to make unwanted birds flee. Basically a good idea, but only effective if the dummies can move freely in the wind and, at best, still sparkle in the sun. Fixed dummies, on the other hand, are usually ineffective because the birds get used to them very quickly.
Reflective materials: In fact, materials that are highly reflective to sunlight seem to work best as scarecrows, provided they are free to move in the wind. The combination of light reflections and movement confuses the birds and is intended to deprive them of their ability to orientate themselves.
possible uses
There are many possible uses for the various bird control measures. Whether you are protecting the cherry harvest from starlings, keeping the balcony free from sparrows and blackbirds, the shed from brooding swallows or hungry woodpeckers, or the roof with the photovoltaic system from pigeons: it is always advisable to combine different measures. You should also change them regularly so that the animals do not get used to them. On the balcony or terrace, it is also important to note that neighbors may feel disturbed by any noise.
Gentle bird control
It is also important for animal lovers that the birds to be driven away are not harmed. In particular, spikes, which are mainly intended to ward off pigeons, should be viewed very critically for animal welfare reasons. The animals impaled with it die an agonizing death or suffer severe injuries. Especially since it is no fun for you yourself to get dead pigeons (or other animals) off the spikes.
noise development
It doesn't matter whether it's an ultrasonic device or a conveyor belt: as a rule, the scarecrow also makes noises that people can hear. Even the sounds in the ultrasonic range can be heard by people with sensitive hearing, not to mention the fluttering ribbons and jingling bells. The fact is, however, that these sounds in the overall package with other measures effectively keep the animals away. So if you want to place the bird deterrent in front of the bedroom window, you should close it at night for a good night's sleep.
Assembly
As a rule, the bird deterrent is easy to attach, but you should note the following: fluttering tapes and dummy birds of prey should be able to move freely in the wind, since fixed figures do not pose any danger to pigeons, sparrows and the like and are therefore usually ignored. Depending on the size of the area to be protected, several measures should always be taken and implemented - a single one usually has no effect. Ultrasonic devices, on the other hand, only emit sounds within a certain radius.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
Should all birds be driven out of the garden?
Many birds - especially blackbirds and other songbirds - are welcome guests in the garden, as they make an important contribution to pest control. Other bird species, such as pigeons, crows, sparrows or magpies, are less popular. They like to nest on or in the house, causing a lot of dirt and noise and driving away the smaller songbird species. You should not drive songbirds out of the garden, since their habitats are already very limited and the garden is therefore a valuable retreat.
What color should a nest box be?
You can attach suitable nesting boxes for songbirds - either hanging freely or high up on the tree. If possible, do not choose brightly colored birdhouses, as the animals are particularly deterred by red tones. Red is considered a warning color in the bird world and is therefore not suitable for nesting boxes. Instead, you should leave the box in a natural wood tone and at most paint it with a non-toxic weatherproof glaze.
How to keep birds away from the house or balcony?
To do this, you should either install the suggested scarecrows or resort to home remedies: cut long strips of aluminum foil and attach them fluttering at different heights, attach colorful wind chimes, pinwheels or little flags, a jingle bells or simply one made of strings and in the sun flashing CDs self-made mobile.
Which scarecrows are particularly effective?
Experience has shown that anything that moves and flashes has a deterrent effect on birds - in contrast to ultrasonic devices or immobile dummy crows. Therefore, install wind skirts or wind chimes, reflective spiral or flutter bands and the like on the balcony. The dummy crows or owls, on the other hand, are not particularly interesting to the animals and are therefore more of a decoration than a frightening bird.
Are there smells that birds don't like?
You will not be able to deter birds with smells, since many species have a rather poorly developed sense of smell and therefore hardly react to appropriate means. Birds are usually not olfactory oriented, but respond to visual and acoustic stimuli. Sometimes cat and dog hair or even butyric acid is recommended as a bird deterrent: you should stay away from butyric acid in particular, as this odor also reliably keeps you away from the house and balcony.
How do I stop sparrows from pecking at freshly sown lawn seed?
To deter sparrows and other hungry birdies from pecking at the freshly sown lawn seeds, you should cover the area with a white garden fleece. Choose a so-called growth or plant fleece, which should be as white or colorless as possible. A weed fleece (€21.70), on the other hand, is not recommended, as this prevents the seed from germinating.