The Affordable Product That Can Deter Unwanted Birds From Your Yard

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Gardeners are constantly looking for ways to attract more birds to their yard. But let's face it, some birds can be a nuisance at times, too. There is nothing wrong with looking up ways to make a DIY bird feeder. After all, who doesn't want to give a safe home to songbirds? However, not every bird that visits your garden is welcome. Depending on where you live, seagulls, pigeons, crows, and geese are repeat offenders, messing with your carefully tended plants — and your peace of mind. However, if you care about the environment, harmful means of getting rid of these noisy visitors are far from ideal. Thankfully, there is a cheap (typically under $10) way to stop pest birds from flocking to your yard: install a windsock. These light, tubular devices attach to a pole and flutter in the wind, scaring away birds without hurting them.

Across the country, birds are responsible for millions of dollars of maintenance every year. This can include blocked home ventilation systems and property damage. In fact, the same bird that sings beautifully or flutters gently past you on a sunny day can quickly turn annoying when you find a patio chair littered with droppings. Droppings, in particular, can be a major problem since they may harbor diseases like histoplasmosis, as well as internal parasites like worms. Furthermore, birds are also quite capable of ruining your summer vegetable and fall fruit harvests. At the more disastrous end of the spectrum, you may even find yourself researching the steps you need to take if an unwanted bird flies into your house. Considering these issues, ordering and installing a cheap windsock or three in your yard is an effective and convenient solution.

A windsock is a fabric tube often seen at airports. It's attached to a pole and inflated by gusts of wind. A windsock indicates the direction and strength of the wind, which (in the case of airports) helps pilots and ground workers check conditions for flight. But how does this common aviation tool help you get rid of the birds? It frightens the birds every time it flutters in the wind. Birds typically have excellent sight and are highly attuned to sudden movements, abilities that help them navigate and avoid threats. Birds perceive the constant flapping of a windsock as something dangerous to be avoided at all costs. Aviation windsocks need to be reliable and long-lasting, so they're quite expensive. Of course, you don't need to hang this kind of windsock in your garden. In fact, it probably wouldn't do much. You need something with bright colors or reflective materials.

What exactly do these additions to the traditional windsock do to deter birds? By adding reflective materials, like holographic streamers, to a windsock, you can confuse the birds mid-air. The movements of the windsock become even more exaggerated, so birds perceive the area as unpredictable and therefore unsafe. They stay well clear. In fact, simply hanging reflective objects in a garden, such as old CDs, pinwheels, colored flags, or bits of aluminum foil, has long been regarded as a useful bird-scaring tactic. In agricultural settings, shiny mylar tape has been protecting fields of sorghum, corn, and millet against hungry birds since at least the mid-1980s. Similarly, a study published in the November 1993 issue of Crop Protection found white plastic flags to be an effective and economical snow geese repellent.

When shopping for a windsock to deter birds from your yard and garden, look for options that are extremely bright and sparkly, with highly reflective streamers. You want something that will reflect the light even on overcast days. Bonus: Some of these holographic windsocks are so pretty you could consider them whimsical outdoor décor. At the cheaper end of the spectrum, consider the Miles Kimball Scare-D-Pest Bird Scarer Windsock for only $8. If you prefer something more aesthetic, try the undeniably cute Dusnodu Durable 40-Inch Ladybug Windsock (about $13 for two). Also, look into the windsocks used to deter typically very determined seagulls from boat lifts. They could work similarly in your backyard.

It probably goes without saying that you should mount the windsock in a spot in your yard that sees a lot of sunlight and wind — the two environmental factors they need to perform at their best. Make sure the windsock is attached securely using a heavy-duty stainless steel swivel hook. This type of fastener won't rust and allows the windsock to turn 360 degrees. Windsocks are excellent for deterring birds when they're moving. One downside is that they don't work effectively on a calm day. Unfortunately, your avian visitors will also eventually get used to the presence of a windsock. To keep your yard healthy and safe from bird invasions, move the windsock every few days or alternate it with other scare tactics, such as decoys, noise makers, or lights. You should see a drop in bird visitors in no time.