Birds are one of the most prevalent garden pests and are also notoriously difficult to deter. From pigeons to geese, birds can destroy domestic fruit production, and can similarly coat lawns and plants with unsightly droppings.
Upon selecting a bird deterrent, it is first and foremost, necessary to ensure that your purchase is safe both for humans, pets and the birds themselves. Lethal methods of bird control are not only frowned upon, but are also, for the most part, illegal.
Gardening enthusiasts have a wide variety of protection systems available to them, and perhaps the most popular of these is the simple, visual deterrent. Like a scarecrow in a cornfield, these devices scare birds away from an area because they look predatory or alarming. Ranging from plastic foxes to old CDs strung up in the branches of a tree, these visual irritants come in all shapes and sizes.
If forms of visual control prove to be ineffective, it is possible also to buy anti-bird sprays which make fruits and leaves taste sour to birds. Gardeners are warned to ensure that their chosen spray does not contain chemicals that harmful to pets or humans.
Finally, sonic and ultrasonic deterrents can be implemented. These deter birds either by replicating the sound of a bird of prey or by producing a noise which birds find unpleasant. These products and a multitude of others are available from good garden shops everywhere, and more advice can be found online directing bird-bothered gardeners on the best course of action.