**2.1 Birds invader of strawberries**

Dozens species of birds feed on strawberries, although some birds are pickier eaters than others. Of the hundreds of bird species, the two dozen or so are the most likely to eat berries. Crows are black birds of the Corvidae family known for their intelligence, adaptability and loud harsh vocalizations. The Corvus is a widely distributed genus comprising crows (generally smaller than ravens), ravens (much larger) and rooks (smaller than crows and have light-colored bills and distinct wedge-shaped tails). The coloration of the livery is dominated by shades of black, with some species having plumage with metallic iridescences and others that have white or gray areas on the neck or torso: a robust and slender appearance, equipped with a small rounded head with a strong conical beak, elongated and pointed, with a slightly curved end towards the bottom: the legs are strong and the tail is short and wedge-shaped. Crows usually feed on the ground and eat almost anything, they frequently cause damage to crops, their common sights in treetops, fields and roadsides, and in habitats ranging from open woods and empty beaches to town centers. The house crow (*Corvus splendens*), has a gray neck collar (**Figure 2**) and is a common bird of the crow family found in many parts of the world [9].

**Figure 2.** *Crow.*

Crows prefer larger fruit, such as apples, but they will also take a bite out of strawberries. Crows seldom eat a whole berry, they take a single peck at a strawberry and leave the rest for insects and rodents. Methods for control include hunting, chemical immobilization, harassment and scare tactics, and trapping [10].

The common grackle (*Quiscalus quiscula*), have a long, dark bill, pale yellowish eyes and a long tail, their feathers appear black with purple, green, or blue iridescence on the head, and primarily bronze sheen in the body plumage (**Figure 3**). Common grackles nest in places other than their usual treetops, including birdhouses, old woodpecker holes and barns. The common grackle forages on the ground, in shallow water or in shrubs, eating insects, minnows, frogs, eggs, berries, seeds, grain, and even small birds and mice [11]. Grackles eat small strawberries whole, but they may just slash larger berries.

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae, having plumages of many species are typically dark with a metallic sheen (**Figure 4**). Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruits. Asian species are most common in evergreen forests and many species are important dispersers of seeds. The common starling or European starling (*Sturnus vulgaris*), has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink, and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer [12]. Starlings can do massive damage to strawberry beds in home and field gardens. They descend in flocks and eat everything they can find. They eat smaller fruit whole and peck out the interiors of larger strawberries.

Finches and sparrows are some of the very small species of birds, but sparrows are a bit larger than finches. House finches bear thick, large beaks having grayish shade, while house sparrows hold a greatly more tapering bill, which is lesser than finches and yellow or black in color, subjected to the bird's breeding stage and gender. House sparrows pattern of color is usually shadier than that of house finches, along with profounder brown, and extra black on the wings and back. Male and female house finches both have noteworthy brown flashing on their belly and flanks in comparison to house sparrows [13]. House finches and house sparrows peck holes in strawberries that leave the fruit susceptible to decay.

Sparrows belong to the family Emberizidae, and arise in brown feathers, dull gray heads and black beaks. Males (**Figure 5a**) have brighter black, white and brown markings around its bill and on throat; and females (**Figure 5b**) and young birds are

**Figure 3.** *Grackle.*

**Figure 4.** *Starling.*

### *Avoid Sharing of Strawberries with Birds, Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pests DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104682*

colored pale brown and gray all over their bodies. The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation and can live in rural or urban settings. They largely feed on the seeds of plants and weeds, grains, but commonly eat insects and many other foods, and even household foods such as bread. The most common type of sparrow that one witnesses is the house sparrow (*Passer domesticus*) [14].

Finches are described one of many (hundreds) of small passerine bird species of family Fringillidae. They have tout conical bills adapted for eating of seeds and nuts, and often have colorful plumage. Their small and sharp beaks, help them to eat the food or drink nectar of the flower. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate. Finches are typically inhabitants of wellwooded areas, but some can be found on mountains or even in deserts. The house finch (*Haemorhous mexicanus*), in most cases, adult males heads, necks and shoulders are reddish (**Figure 6a**), while female adults have brown upperparts and streaked underparts (**Figure 6b**). House finches forage on the ground or in vegetation normally. They primarily eat grains, seeds and berries, being voracious consumers of weed seeds [15].

Robins are any of several small similar bird species of thrush group having a red or reddish breast. The European robin (*Erithacus rubecula*), simply known as robin redbreast of family Muscicapidae, are with an orange breast and face lined with gray, brown upper-parts and a whitish belly, and bill and eyes are black (**Figure 7**). Its diet

**Figure 5.** *(a) Sparrow (male) and (b) sparrow (female).*

**Figure 6.** *(a) Finch (male) and (b). Finch (female).*

**Figure 7.** *European robin.*

generally consists of around 40% small invertebrates mainly insects, and 60% wild and cultivated fruits and berries [16].

The American robin (*Turdus migratorius*), is a migratory songbird of the true thrush Turdidae family, and has a brown back, reddish-orange breast, white throat with black streaks, white belly and under tail coverts, and the bill is mainly yellow (**Figure 8**). Its diet consists of invertebrates, fruits and berries [17].

Robins eat a wide variety of food, including worms, seeds, nuts, suet, invertebrates and fruits. Robins eat strawberries whole and they can do substantial damage to a small bed of strawberries.

Oriole is any bird of several brightly colored passerine of the family Icteridae, having black and yellow or orange feathers. They are often found in orchards, prairies, farmland, urban parks, suburban landscapes, forest edge, open woodland, wooded wetlands, leafy deciduous trees and stands of trees along rivers. Among orioles (Passeriformes: Icteridae), bullock's oriole (*Icterus bullockii*) adult males (**Figure 9a**) are characterized by strongly contrasting orange and black plumage, a black throat patch and a white wing bar. The underparts, breast and face are orange or yellow. Adult females (**Figure 9b**), have gray-brown upperparts, duller yellow on the breast and underparts, and an olive crown. These birds forage in trees and shrubs, also making short flights to catch insects, and they mainly eat insects, berries and nectars [18].

Adults Baltimore orioles (*Icterus galbula*), constantly have white blocks on the wings. The adult males are yellow-orange on the rump, underparts and patches on shoulder, while entire rest of male's feathers are black (**Figure 10a**). The adult females are yellow-brown on the upper parts, have darker wings, and on the belly and breast dull orange-yellow (**Figure 10b**). It forages in trees and shrubs, also making short flights to catch insects. Baltimore orioles seem to prefer only ripe, dark-colored fruits, seek out the darkest mulberries, the reddest cherries and berries, and will ignore green cherries even if they are ripe. They crack the closed bill into soft fruits, then open their mouths to cut a juicy band from which they drink with their tongues [19].

Black-capped chickadee (*Poecile atricapillus*) in the tit family Paridae, is a passerine bird. It has a black bib and cap with white sides to the face. The underparts of

**Figure 8.** *American robin.*

**Figure 9.** *(a) Bullock's oriole (male) and (b) Bullock's oriole (female).*

*Avoid Sharing of Strawberries with Birds, Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pests DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104682*

**Figure 10.** *(a) Baltimore oriole (male) and (b) Baltimore oriole (female).*

black-capped chickadee are white with rusty brown on the flanks, tail is normally slate gray and back gray (**Figure 11**). It lives in deciduous and mixed forests, wherein seeds and berries become more important in birds hop along tree branches searching for food, and sometimes hanging upside down or hovering [20].

Blue jay (*Cyanocitta cristata*) is a passerine bird of the family Corvidae. Predominantly, its coloration is blue, with a white chest and underparts, and a blue crest. It has a black, U-shaped collar around its neck and a black border behind the crest (**Figure 12**). The blue jay feeds mainly on seeds and nuts, fruits and other berries. In both deciduous and coniferous forests, it normally picks up food from trees, shrubs and the ground [21].

Black-headed grosbeak (*Pheucticus melanocephalus*) in family Cardinalidae, is similar in size to a common starling. The males have black wings and head, breast is dark to tawny orange, tail with prominent white patches and yellow belly (**Figure 13a**). The females have brown neck and head; breast is white; white streaks down the middle of head, eyes and on her cheeks; wings and tail are grayish-brown with two white wing bars, yellowish wing edges; and back with sparrow-like black streaks

**Figure 11.** *Black-capped chickadee.*

**Figure 12.** *Blue jay.*

**Figure 13.** *(a) Black-headed grosbeak (male) and (b) black-headed grosbeak (female).*

**Figure 14.** *Bohemian waxwing.*

**Figure 15.** *Brown thrasher.*

(**Figure 13b**). It prefers to live in deciduous and mixed wooded areas with large trees and thick bushes, wetlands and suburban areas. Forages mostly in shrubs and trees, searching for food among foliage, and also may forage on ground. Feeds on seeds of various weeds and eats berries of many plants as well as some cultivated fruits [22].

Bohemian waxwing (*Bombycilla garrulus*), is also a starling-sized passerine bird of family Bombycillidae. It has mainly buff-gray plumage, black face markings, under tail feathers are rusty, white rectangles on wings and a pointed crest. Its wings are patterned with white and bright yellow, and some feather tips have the red waxy appearance (**Figure 14**). Mainly feeds on insects, especially flying insects, and mostly berries and fruits as they become available, wherein takes berries while perched or hovering. Also eats seeds of birch and other trees, and will drink oozing sap [23].

Brown thrasher (*Toxostoma rufum*), is a bird of the Mimidae family usually nesting on small trees and shrubs. It has brown upper parts and white under part with dark streaks, slightly down curved bill, and staring yellow eyes (**Figure 15**). The habitat of brown thrasher is thickets brush shrubbery and thorn scrub. It forages a diet that includes insects, berries, nuts and seeds. Sometimes they visit feeders or the ground below to pick up fallen seeds. There is a better chance they will visit if dense cover is close by. They can also be attracted by planting of shrubs that produce berries [24].

Although birds will eat strawberries anywhere they are planted, damage is greater in urban gardens than on farms. Bird damage is greater in a home gardener's bed of strawberries than in a farmer's field of strawberries.

#### *2.1.1 Preventing of birds eating strawberries*

Protect fruit from birds with netting and put egg shells around strawberries as the shells are excessively harsh for the birds to get nearby to them. Place pea straw around fruit lying on the dirt to keep them going into rotten. Paint stones to look like strawberries, one peck of those and the birds will learn to leave the real ones alone. Start to grow them in the greenhouse away from birds and eat the fruits as soon as these ripe.

The mere presence of birds in the area does not mean those birds are actively eating berries. It is not compulsory to just panic for the reason that growers notice birds in the surrounding area of berries. Several birds are mostly insect eaters and not at all involved in berries. However, those species that are fruit and seed eaters can well

#### *Avoid Sharing of Strawberries with Birds, Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pests DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104682*

be eating on berries. Of the hundreds of bird species, the two dozen or so are the maximum expected to consume berries. Before taking counter measures, make sure there are actually witnessing that the birds are eating fruit. And prior to take any procedures for chasing away of birds, growers must consider the information that those birds can be existing to consume other pests, which are injurious to berries. The similar actions may be used to retain birds far away from the berries and also keeping them for consumption of insects that might be the more severe enemies.

For strawberries grown commercially, bird damage is usually insignificant. Several groups of scientists have done a skillful learning of birds harm to marketable strawberry territories. They observed that birds usually eat approximately 3–4% of a strawberry crop and their fecal contamination affect only around 0.01% of the crop. Within the internal parts of a commercial field, birds consume insects more than strawberries. But, in the margin of the strawberry field, occurrence of birds is a clear encouraging. This is only round the periphery of a farmer's strawberry field where birds injury compensates benefits by birds. Homebased growers practice a dissimilar story with opinion that birds can destroy some entire crop of home gardeners. However, there are points that both commercial growers and home gardeners can organize to retain birds injury to a lowest level.

#### *2.1.2 Protecting of berries from birds*

There are several humane ways to keep berry crop safe from neighborhood birds. Here are a few of the best approaches against the invasions of birds. The sweet, sugary berries are irresistible to hungry pests, so some proactive measures are needed to keep unwanted visitors at bay. A combination of methods used in tandem works best to protect strawberry plants, but nothing is 100% guaranteed when a foraging pest is truly motivated. For homebased strawberry beds, the way out is to shelter strawberries with bird-resistant material. Collect some 1 1 woody decking bits (25 mm 25 mm) from neighborhood home development center or timber backyard. Practice the decking fragments to construct an arrangement similar a table wide and long sufficient to cover whole strawberry bed, and enough tall to lodge the highest plants. Create a table, but not a box, so that there is no lower edge to press them. Fasten netting cloth on five sides over the box, by leaving the base exposed. At that moment, just place the box over strawberries and lift it up only to reap. This configuration can as well be used to shelter other plants while strawberries are not bearing fruit.

If gardeners are commercially developing of strawberries, there are two options for caring field from birds; should have all of strawberries in a continuous single field, because larger is the field, the more secure plants are in its middle. Eliminate birds habitation nearby to strawberry field and do not leave shrubbery, grasslands or bird houses round strawberry plants.

Consider two times prior to stating fighting on birds that consume to strawberries. Several cities and towns are bird reservations, and it is each time unlawful to destroy birds in these localities. Toxic substance does not discriminate among bird species, if gardeners place out toxin for a species, it is legal to destroy, for instance a grackle, however if an endangered species consumes the poisoned bait and expires, growers might be guilty of a federation or state criminality. Even though birds are swarming and dropping down on plant, gardeners could require to apply for a migratory bird depredation permit that might be attained from wildlife service to take care of large numbers of birds with lethal methods. Non-toxic and non-lethal methods are better for controlling of birds on commercial fields [25].

#### *2.1.2.1 Visual scare and noisemaker devices*

Visual scaring devices comprise streamers, spinners, plastic owl and plastic snake models, scare-eyes (balloons having eyes dyed on them), and aluminum pie pans. Birds may come to be habituated to visual deterrents, hence it is compulsory to use variable colors and types of devices positioned in changeable sites to retain birds from becoming used to these.

Noisemaker devices for birds deterrence contain exploders, cannons and sirens. Noisemakers work the finest while they are applied at irregular interims. When noisemakers are used every day at the same time, birds will turn into habituated to them. Tape recorders of bird distress calls are extra operational than generic sources of noise, however, it is essential to acquire tapes of the precise types for birds initiating losses. Noise does frighten to birds off and having a radio near or in berry patch will create enough noise to frighten hungry birds away. Compatibly, once the birds get used to the noise, they would not be shy about investigating of garden.

For protecting of strawberry beds from birds, gather several small pebbles, paint them red with craft paint and sprinkle them in and around strawberry plants. Of course the birds will be attracted, after a while get tired of pecking the rocks and leave the strawberries alone. Growers can likewise effort cheating to the birds through finely image of strawberry-shaped rocks to appear alike strawberries and then allocate them evenly all over strawberry plants. The cheerful red color will appeal to resident avian raiders looking for some free food to these locations. Fortuitously, few pecks will show the trick and halt the plans of birds. Not desiring to be tricked constantly, they will learn soon that strawberries, which their mind states should be charming are really quite uneatable. As soon as the experience has been learned, they will vacate to strawberry bed alone.

#### *2.1.2.2 Flash tape and CDs or aluminum pie plates*

Movement and shine of any objects will frighten to most birds off. Flash tape basically is foil tape or strip of Mylar, which flutters in the wind, so frightening off to the birds. The birds do not like to the luster of tape and something that moves is worthy for retaining birds outside the area. Foil tape is humane, inexpensive and comparatively self-effacing. However, when the birds are enough hungry, they will take risk for moving adjacent the tape to acquire a strike of fresh berries.

The idea behind CDs or aluminum pie plates on a thread system is the similar to the Mylar flash tape, because glittery, stirring stuffs will scare to any voracious birds from the region. For using of this technique, only tie some cord through the hole in a CD, or create a hole in a pie plate and string or thread through it and suspend it from a pole or fence nearby to berries. This method also provides a great opportunity to recycle, since growers can use old CDs and used aluminum pie plates. And, as with the flash tape method, if birds are very hungry, this method would not deter them for long.

#### *2.1.2.3 Netting*

Birds love to ripe berries and for keeping of birds from eating of berries, it is a good idea to cover the plants with bird's netting as soon as the berries begin to ripen. Small birds may get inside the netting and get caught. Also, the netting is easy to lift off for picking the berries, fairly inexpensive and easy to replace. Be sure to weight down the netting with stones, boards or rocks, so it does not fly away. And do not leave any gaps *Avoid Sharing of Strawberries with Birds, Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pests DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104682*

where the birds can hop in underneath the net. This is possibly the greatest fool-proof technique for protecting more of the berry yield. As a result of netting draping above small fruit trees and berry bushes, growers can check to birds from getting at the great bulk of the berries. For plants such as strawberries, floating row cover frames can support netting to protect the berries from birds. Loftier berry bushes can be secured through pop-up screens, traded by garden supplying retailers.

#### *2.1.2.4 Fake predators and pinwheels*

A realistic-looking fake predators on a post will help to scare pesky birds away from berries. The clue behind it is forthright that birds realize an imaginary predator (scarecrow, bird of prey, human dummy or snake) nearby the berries and they would not move close to them. Orchard supply stores sale a number of diverse cardboard or inflatable owls, scarecrows, snakes or hawks to practice in the orchard. For making of this effort, frames are needed to exchange the scarecrow after every few days to a fresh location in the area. Straightly, the birds will eventually figure out that the scarecrow is not stirring. Birds have snakes as natural enemies, so placing a rubber snake around the yard is a great way to keep the birds at a distance. This is especially true of birds looking for a place to nest as they know that snakes will eat the eggs. If some part of the scarecrow moves, such as a tie that flutters in the breeze, it will work all the better.

Outdoor pinwheels are more than simple decorations, but when the fins have a metallic or reflective surface like the metal, solar powered ornament, they can naturally scare birds away. The sudden flashes of light startle the birds and will help to keep them away from strawberries. Pinwheels are also quite durable and only need occasional inspection to ensure they are still upright and working.

#### *2.1.2.5 Birds bath and feeders*

Birdbaths will bring a wide variety of backyard birds to garden or yard and many of these birds feast on insect pests. A general concept is that while birds attack a berry area, they are not so voracious as greatly as they are thirsty. The higher content of water in berries makes them a perfect object for thirsty birds. By means of having a birdbath in adjacent, growers provide to them what they want really and birds vacate berries lone. This will perform even well if growers can add the voice of water, by the usage of a fountain or dripper. If the birds really are just hungry, growers have provided them with a full meal instead of just a drink.

As with the bird bath idea, inviting birds to the garden can help growers to control insect pests. The belief behind this clue is that when growers provide to the birds their very particular diet, they will vacate crop lonely. Place one or two feeders in nearby vicinity to berry area and the birds will move to the feeders as a replacement of looting to plant. But, if growers are not careful about keeping of the feeders full once hungry birds have been attracted, they could very well notice the luscious berries nearby and feast on them.

#### *2.1.2.6 Smells to scare away birds*

There are many smells that can repel to birds away from strawberries, for example, garlic, cayenne pepper and peppermint oil are all known to be offensive to birds and all happen to be organic products. Growers can create a mixture of cayenne pepper

combined with water to spray on strawberries. The scent will cause the birds to react and pull away quickly, however, growers need to reapply the cayenne pepper spray frequently to keep the scent strong and remember to wash strawberries before eating them.

A chemical so-called methyl anthranilate is there, which flavors bad to birds, however it is unpleasant for persons. But, this might not be lawful wherever growers are living and it may not be used in production of organic strawberry. On occasion, this injuries to foliage of plants on which it is dripping. And occasionally, the topsecret to keep birds beyond strawberry area, is exchanging of varieties. Implanting of alpine gold strawberries that when ripe are yellow, could fool to birds searching for red strawberries.
