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Stupid f'n mocking birds ......

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chjoak
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9:45a, 4/26/26
AG
Every year I have a fun little dance timing my tomato picking vs ripening so that the mocking birds don't get them. In general I try to leave them on the plant as long as possible before the birds start to notice. Once they notice I typically have to pick right as they start to blush or I will lose every one. This year those damn birds hit my first 2 tomatoes right after they started to turn.

Years ago Inused to put out bird net.nthatbworked well but it was a pain and my current setup doesn't really allow for that option. What else can I do to keep them away that will actually work?
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HTownAg98
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9:49a, 4/26/26
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chjoak
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In reply to HTownAg98 • 10:12a, 4/26/26
AG
About right.
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Aggie1205
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1:26p, 4/26/26
AG
Put out water for them to drink. That is what they are going for.

Editing to add that Mockingbirds are much more likely to eat insects during the spring and summer in particular. I never see Mockingbirds going to bird feeders. Try having some water available and see if that helps.
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angryocotillo
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1:55p, 4/26/26
AG
I have started picking my big tomatoes when they are 1/3 pink. They don't taste any different and I haven't had any split or get eaten by vertebrates yet. I've heard that the fruit are shut off from the plant at that point anyway, but I haven't researched enough to confirm that.

That being said, I did pick a couple too early because I was afraid last weeks downpours were going to split them, and they did not taste great are opening on the counter.
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gravitartx
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2:37p, 4/26/26
AG
We hang up old CD's and the mirrored disks from inside hard drives around tomato plants and it seems to keep the birds away pretty good. A lot less casualties compared to bird nets
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SteveBott
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In reply to angryocotillo • 2:40p, 4/26/26
AG
angryocotillo said:
I have started picking my big tomatoes when they are 1/3 pink. They don't taste any different and I haven't had any split or get eaten by vertebrates yet. I've heard that the fruit are shut off from the plant at that point anyway, but I haven't researched enough to confirm that.

That being said, I did pick a couple too early because I was afraid last weeks downpours were going to split them, and they did not taste great are opening on the counter.


This is the answer. Put them in a window seal for a week and they will be juicy red and ready.
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chjoak
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In reply to SteveBott • 5:41p, 4/26/26
AG
SteveBott said:
angryocotillo said:
I have started picking my big tomatoes when they are 1/3 pink. They don't taste any different and I haven't had any split or get eaten by vertebrates yet. I've heard that the fruit are shut off from the plant at that point anyway, but I haven't researched enough to confirm that.

That being said, I did pick a couple too early because I was afraid last weeks downpours were going to split them, and they did not taste great are opening on the counter.


This is the answer. Put them in a window seal for a week and they will be juicy red and ready.

Except the reason I posted this was because I checked this morning and those b'tards tagged a cherry tomato that was green yesterday and blush this morning. I had no time to pick it unless I picked it green
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Gunny456
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In reply to Aggie1205 • 6:32p, 4/26/26
AG
This. They are attracted to the red and have learned for the past hundreds of years there is moisture in fruits as such. Typically if its hot and dry they utilize them for the water....not food. They didn't gather up this week at a mockingbird convention and decide " Hey lets, for the hell of it, go peck holes in chjoak's tomatoes." They are simply doing what birds do. Put out a bird bath or a easy water source for them. They do much more good by eating insects that will destroy garden plants anyway.
TAMU Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Boat racing is like a beautiful woman.......expensive, high maintenance, but well worth the fun!
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Milwaukees Best Light
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6:48p, 4/26/26
AG
Hang some fake red balls on the cage. And a rubber snake.


Yep, balls and rubber snake in one post.
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Old Sarge
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9:17p, 4/26/26
AG
Old Timer told me that he used to get small foam balls from Hobby Lobby and paint them cherry red, and put them on rat traps in his garden (painted a bunch of them waaayy in advance so the paint smell would fade). Peck/whap. No more Mockingbird, or others.

Never tried it. Just used a net with a PVC frame that would allow maintenance and picking. If the bird was greedy enough to ensnare itself, fine.

I've had Mockingbirds hammer green tomatoes on numerous occasions.
"Green" is the new RED.
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BartInLA
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In reply to chjoak • 9:25p, 4/26/26
Birdshot
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oklaunion
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9:49p, 4/26/26
The answer is that which cannot be said. Just do it. The devil's bird.
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BrazosDog02
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In reply to chjoak • 9:51p, 4/26/26
AG
Pick your tomatoes the second they start to blush to at "color break". There is no benefit to leaving them on the bush to waste energy while you wait for them to turn red. Plus, as you know, everything else will be waiting for them and the risk of Dave and splitting increases.

Once the ripening process starts, they can be pulled.

You might lose a couple here and there but it will be less.
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Gunny456
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11:13p, 4/26/26
AG
Its really amazing to me that the instant remedy of any bird or animal that is causing inconvenience to someone the first response on the OB is to "kill it". Where over populations of varmints, rodents, birds is a factor there is nothing wrong with harvesting animals to control damaging populations.

But to brag on a Aggie forum of how to kill our state bird is just bad.

Especially when the northern mocking bird is experiencing a very long term decline in Texas. There has been about a 30-35% decline in the populations from the mid 60's to 2020 or so.

My grandfather, dad, and myself have raised many a tomato's by putting simple coverings of chicken wire over the plants.

The bird is trying to get water for goodness sakes. The birds eat the insects that will ruin the plants for sure. Then you will be complaining about the insects.

TAMU Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Boat racing is like a beautiful woman.......expensive, high maintenance, but well worth the fun!
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txags92
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In reply to Gunny456 • 11:19p, 4/26/26
AG
Gunny456 said:
Its really amazing to me that the instant remedy of any bird or animal that is causing inconvenience to someone the first response on the OB is to "kill it". Where over populations of varmints, rodents, birds is a factor there is nothing wrong with harvesting animals to control damaging populations.

But to brag on a Aggie forum of how to kill our state bird is just bad.

Especially when the northern mocking bird is experiencing a very long term decline in Texas. There has been about a 30-35% decline in the populations from the mid 60's to 2020 or so.

My grandfather, dad, and myself have raised many a tomato's by putting simple coverings of chicken wire over the plants.

The bird is trying to get water for goodness sakes. The birds eat the insects that will ruin the plants for sure. Then you will be complaining about the insects.


Its ok, the answer to the insects is just to spray a bunch of chemicals on food that you plan to eat. What could go wrong?
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Gunny456
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In reply to txags92 • 11:20p, 4/26/26
SteveBott
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In reply to Gunny456 • 11:24p, 4/26/26
AG
Agreed. That is why I beat them to the prize. That way I don't need to kill them. Just outsmart them. Which can be hard to do hense the OP.

I pick early but it's not that hard to set up PVC polls and some chickin wire.
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BrazosDog02
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In reply to txags92 • 11:31p, 4/26/26
AG
Reminds me of a petite unassuming Asian lady that came into Lowe's when I was a teenager. She had clearly given her last f- away the previous week. I was working inside lawn and garden. She said she had something eating her flower garden. When i asked she needed help identifying the pest she said "no, which one of these things kills everything?"


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Lola68
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2:00p, 4/27/26
Little *******s eat my figs.
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chjoak
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In reply to Lola68 • 2:01p, 4/27/26
AG
Lola68 said:
Little *******s eat my figs.

same but I generally have enough that it's not end of the world.
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chjoak
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2:03p, 4/27/26
AG
Added 2 water dishes/bowls to the garden. Let's see if you guys were right.
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Lola68
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In reply to chjoak • 2:18p, 4/27/26
I get angry because they like to take a few bites from multiple figs
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S.A. Aggie
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2:41p, 4/27/26
AG
Have you tried putting netting over your plants?
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JB!98
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8:28p, 4/27/26
AG
Have you tried singing to them?
Today, unfortunately, many Americans have good reason to fear that they will be victimized if they are unable to protect themselves. And today, no less than in 1791, the Second Amendment guarantees their right to do so. - Justice Samuel Alito 2022
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Rattler12
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In reply to Gunny456 • 8:22a, 4/28/26
Gunny456 said:
Its really amazing to me that the instant remedy of any bird or animal that is causing inconvenience to someone the first response on the OB is to "kill it". Where over populations of varmints, rodents, birds is a factor there is nothing wrong with harvesting animals to control damaging populations.

But to brag on a Aggie forum of how to kill our state bird is just bad.

Especially when the northern mocking bird is experiencing a very long term decline in Texas. There has been about a 30-35% decline in the populations from the mid 60's to 2020 or so.

My grandfather, dad, and myself have raised many a tomato's by putting simple coverings of chicken wire over the plants.

The bird is trying to get water for goodness sakes. The birds eat the insects that will ruin the plants for sure. Then you will be complaining about the insects.


Some folks would complain if you gave them a million bucks.....just because it was all in one dollar bills.
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P.H. Dexippus
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8:32a, 4/28/26
AG
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Rattler12
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8:44a, 4/28/26
Yep. All these Addicus Finches out here where we're at are the trouble makers.....not the mocking birds. Anyway, isn't it illegal in Texas To Kill a Mockingbird
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dahouse
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8:54a, 4/28/26
AG
I used to try all the things to deter birds. Hanging CD's, putting out water, hanging red Christmas balls, fake snakes and owls, bird netting, etc. The thing that finally worked was pantyhose.

Go to the dollar store and get a few pairs. Cut small sections and stretch them over the tomatoes. The fruit can still grow but the birds will leave it alone, and it will prevent them from noticing the color change of the fruit.

You just have to deal with the judgmental stares that come with a grown man buying a bunch of cheap women's undergarments.
Cody
Fightin Texas Aggie c/o 04
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ShinerDunk93
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1:14p, 4/28/26
AG
Not sure if the water works........maybe for the mockingbirds, but I have multiple thieves. Does not work for squirrels and rats. Finally broke down and made a big permanent cage for my tomatoes to keep the squirrels from destroying them. Rats still get in but they find the bait box next to the water bowl. Single feed blocks.

Not found a good solution for spider mites.
TexAgs: as long as we have each other, we will never run out of problems.
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The Sun
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In reply to dahouse • 5:45p, 4/28/26
dahouse said:
I used to try all the things to deter birds. Hanging CD's, putting out water, hanging red Christmas balls, fake snakes and owls, bird netting, etc. The thing that finally worked was pantyhose.

Go to the dollar store and get a few pairs. Cut small sections and stretch them over the tomatoes. The fruit can still grow but the birds will leave it alone, and it will prevent them from noticing the color change of the fruit.

You just have to deal with the judgmental stares that come with a grown man buying a bunch of cheap women's undergarments.


What color? Sheer? Nude? Black?

Seriously though, what color/type?
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dahouse
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In reply to The Sun • 6:13p, 4/28/26
AG
I always used the nude or sheer. I thought black might increase heat
Cody
Fightin Texas Aggie c/o 04
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txags92
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In reply to dahouse • 6:52p, 4/28/26
AG
dahouse said:
I always used the nude or sheer. I thought black might increase heat

Black ones always did when I saw em…
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