How big is your growing area? Probably you have to use nets to protect them. See the attached pictures for some examples.
I support Yuan-Yen, nets are the most efficient and reliable way to keep birds out of your plants/seeds. We tested many chemical repellents, nothing worked better nets.
In the old time (or even now), farmers also use scarecrow in the field to scare away the birds. Scarecrows are usually build in human shape and stand in the crop field as Bird scarer (see attachments). It seems to work so you can still spot them on the farms sometimes today. Even some modern Garden books suggest the use of them, and by moving them around often, not just fix at one spot. However, I don't know how effective they are. The attached photos are scarecrows on Japan and Korean rice farms, according to the website.
Hi Elfanah,
Best solution is to use reflective mirror bird scarers. This is a just a moving mirrors sparkle in the light, using the natural energy of breezes and the sun. Highly recommend :)
In old days we had used cassette tapes over the field to give reflections (specially parrots, sparrows) But now common practice is to use CD's
Hi Elfanah,
You should put some seeds near your plantations , the birds will eat it and will stay far from your cultures.
Well, @Narimene, I think that we cannot feed them all if there are many. Besides, even you place some seeds near the plantations, it won't be necessary that they will choose these seeds as their meals. They may still aim for the better one--the fresh seedling salad on the farm.
@Ahmed.
1. This page ( Bird Scarer ) includes many strategies to scare the birds away. Use them as references, you might be able to improvise some cheaper methods out of them for yourself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_scarer
2. This is one of the commercial companies selling modern bird-controlling products.
https://www.birdbgone.com/products.html/
@ Alex,
What are the reasons do you think that most chemical repellents you tested did not work? Is that because the wind blows them away (such as if they are in liquid vapor form)?
Yuan-Yeu,
They were blown away, washed away by rain, some birds could eat treated seeds anyway, maybe, without pleasure :) The results were far from expected.
I think Bird Boy is the best solution to drive away the birds. Net is costly and only for small area. On the other hand colorful ribbon with small stand (5 feet) may be used. Ribbon should be tide on the upper end of the stand and stake should be placed 7-10 m apart from one another in the field. Colorful ribbon will be blowing with air and reflect light then the birds afraid and run away.
One of the best methods I have seen is hawk callings which are broadcast on speakers into the fields. This was used successfully for grapes in Pennsylvania. If you have some youngsters with stones that will work this is a method commonly used in Hawaii. The ultimate might be the use of drones which I believe will become the next generation of bird control.
In addition to the above mentioned methods, I know of two more low-budget options:
One is quite similar to what Mr. Bazlur Rahman suggested, but instead of colorful ribbon you can use old video- (or audio) tapes. They are easy to acquire and will cost you nothing. They work in the same way as the above mentioned ribbon (moved by the breeze --> reflections scare birds away)
Another option is (again quite similar) to use old cd's. Also very easy to acquire and costs are next to nothing. Same principle again, moved by breeze --> reflections...
I saw both options used successfully in practice.
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