Bird Repellents

Q: I’ve got some pesky birds that keep eating my pea/bean seedlings. I’ve
tried aluminum pans tied to a stake but this hasn’t helped so far. 

A: I’ve never seen a bird repellent that worked very well. Pie pans, reflective
tape, balloons and plastic owls seem to work equally well, with a success rate
close to zero. The only thing I know that works is to cover the plants with bird
netting or chicken wire. It’s not terribly complicated to make a dozen wooden
stakes which can be spaced down the row to support netting or wire. When the
seedlings are a foot tall you can remove the cover because the plants are
rooted well enough to resist bird tugging.