How to Prevent Birds From Eating Grapes

Cover your grapevine with mesh netting to prevent birds from eating grapes.

While you enjoy eating grapes from your grapevine, you also may have birds as company since some have a passion for grapes. Grape-loving birds include the starling, a stocky, medium-sized songbird with black plumage and a long, pointy beak; and the house finch with a shallow notch in its tail, plain brown females, and males with a red rump, breast and face. Knowing how to prevent birds such as these from eating your grapes will save your vines from damages.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2- to 1/4-inch reusable mesh netting
• Balloons with "scare eyes"
• Poles
• Plastic snake (optional)
• Plastic owl (optional)
• Plastic hawk (optional)
• Sirens
• Propane exploders (optional)

Instructions

Netting

1. Unroll 1/2- to 1/4-inch mesh, reusable netting directly over the entire length of your grapevine, lifting the net up in sections and then placing the net on top of your vines.

2. Spread the netting sides down to the ground or secure the netting under your grapevine, so the birds cannot enter from the bottom.

3. Reuse the netting each year by removing it carefully and storing it for the winter. Reusable netting can last from five to seven years.

Scare Techniques

1. Paint eyes on large balloons to make "scare-eyes" or purchase these balloons ready-made and hang them on poles above your grapevine to scare birds away.

2. Place plastic models of bird predators, such as a snake, hawk or an owl around your grapevine.

3. Switch your scare devices around weekly to different locations to keep them effective; otherwise, the birds will figure out these devices are harmless.

Noise Makers

1. Place noise makers such as sirens and propane exploders around your grapevine to scare birds away. Ensure the noise makers work and have them in place before the birds arrive to eat your grapes.

2. Move the noise makers around every three to five days and have them make sounds randomly, so the birds do not get used to them.

3. Place the noise makers in numerous locations, so the sound carries throughout the grapevine.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase netting from a garden supply center and save money by buying rolls 10 by 20 feet at a time. Although expensive initially, it can save you money compared to the loss of grapes by birds.

References

• Washington State University: Hardy Seedless Table Grapes
• Controlling Birds on Fruit Crops; Margaret C. Brittingham, et al.
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds: House Finch
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds: European Starling

Resources

• Bird-X: Get Rid of Birds with Bird-X!
• Wildlife Control Technology, Inc.: Home and Garden