Digital Scarecrows

April/May 2002
 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

COUNTRY LORE

RELATED CONTENT

In the late summer, when the grapes are getting about as sweet as they can get, robins, finches, king birds and other fruitlovers become quite attracted to my arbors. I have found recycled compact discs can keep the birds at bay, at least during midday when they seem the most aggressive. The shiny, mirrorlike surfaces of CDs are highly reflective and create a bright, swirling rainbow of color. If you hang several discs around a tree or grapevine, the blinding reflection is too intense for those beady bird eyes, and the opportunistic omnivores seek easier peckings elsewhere. The trick to hanging the CDs for maximum bird-repelling effect is to bend a 3-inch--LONG for piece of wire into the shape of the Greek letter omega Make the loop part about 1/2 inch wide so it slips through the hole in the center of the disc. The "feet" of the omega catch the edge of the hole so the wire hanger doesn't slip through entirely. Tie a length of fishing line to the center of the omega's loop and the other end to a s upporting branch. If done properly the disc should have the shiny side facing skyward, but should not be balanced perfectly horizontal. Instead let the disc tilt at a 30 to 45 degree angle. The discs should be able to rotate freely and placed where they can catch the sun's rays. PAUL NEHERLas Cruces, New Mexico

Rude Callers? Please Let Us Know

If anyone calls to sell youMOTHER EARTH NEWSand is rude or unpro f essional, and you have Caller ID, please report the call and pbone number to us at(800) 678-4883,or send an e-mail to letters@motberearthnews.com.-MOTHER

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.