Turn An Old Globe Into A Dazzling Garden Decor Piece That Repels Unwanted Birds

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Not all birds are welcome in our backyards all the time. Sow a few handfuls of wildflower seeds in a garden bed and European starlings pop by to eat them up. Plant grapevines along a fence, and you'll have blue jays visiting in droves for a sweet snack. Maybe you're simply trying to stop birds from nesting where you don't want them. Fortunately, there are more than a few ways to repel birds without harming them. If you've ever stuffed hay into a shirt and a pair of jeans to make a scarecrow, you get it. A disco ball is probably one of the most eccentric — and, arguably, most stylish — bird repellents out there. You can make one from an old classroom globe.

The goal of this project is to cover the old globe with reflective tiles. As the ball rotates or sways in the breeze, the reflective pieces will fling sparkles of light around your garden. It's a simple though slightly time-consuming project that pretty much anyone can do with the right materials. If you don't already have a globe and can't find one thrifting, a new 8-inch Kiseer Black Rotating World Globe will set you back about $20. Purchase a 3,000-piece roll of Satinior Self-Adhesive Disco Mirror Ball Tile Tape for about $10. You'll also need a pair of scissors and a clean rag.  While not absolutely necessary, some twine and a Tcamp Heavy-Duty Polyester Trellis Net will come in handy if you want to hang your glittery globe rather than keep it on its stand.

If your globe came from an estate sale or you pulled it out of the attic, wipe off the dust with a clean, damp rag. Next, cut a strip of reflective tiles and tear off the backing to expose the glue. Attach this first strip to the globe, following the equator. Repeat this process until you've covered the entire globe. Make use of the latitude lines to ensure the strips go on straight. If you can't use mirror tile tape for any reason, you can repurpose other shiny objects — for instance, old CDs, pieces of shiny metal, or even Snorbla Silver Holographic Chunky Glitter. Stick them to the globe using a hot glue gun or spray-on adhesive. Either way, you'll transform your old globe into a quirky bird-repelling tool that doubles as conversation-starting yard art.

You can keep the globe on its stand and place it on flat surfaces in your garden. Or, if you detach it from its stand, you can hang it. Simply pull the pin at the top of the stand to remove the globe. Next, wrap your globe in the polyester trellis net and tie it at the top with twine. Hang your globe from a sturdy tree branch, an arbor, or your patio rafters. Do reflectors really work to keep birds away from areas of your yard? They do, though only for a short time, since the birds will eventually get used to the object. You'll need to move it regularly to retain its effectiveness. Or mix it up with other affordable items you may already have that can deter birds from entering your yard, including aluminum foil, wind chimes, pinwheels, pie pans, and tin cans.