i want my cherries!

I'm sick of the blackbirds getting them. I must have had my cherry tree about 10yrs and its been in the back garden, in a pot in the porch and the front garden (where it is now) and it has always been under attack from blackbirds. even in the porch right by my front door!!

I have tried putting a net over them, but i found a blackbird jumping up and eating the cherries through a small gap in it.

I think its a dwarf variety as its not yet reached 5feet (probably not helped by us moving it a lot) and its never had many cherries on till this year. it's got over 20 and i would quite like to taste them!

does anyone have any ideas to keep the blackbirds off? i do feed the wildbirds, so its not like theyre actually hungry.....

 

I've had a similar problem in the past with blackbirds getting at my strawberries by pulling the edges of my netting out of the ground, despite my efforts to peg the netting down! They are very bold and determined when it comes to soft fruit.
I can only suggest new nets very carefully applied over the whole tree and then secured around the trunk. You now know how small a hole they will exploit so you have to be as determined to stop them as they are to eat your cherries.

 

Awww poor blackbirds:hehe:They are very crafty birds. Maybe you could get another tree for them and net yours. I cannot see how you will ever stop a blackbird.:(

 

This thread reminds me of a little song, which I think is very apt for this thread:

 

Ditto Ros!...I have a 15 footer and this year it's laden with Cherries...and yep!..Blackbirds,Jackdaws,Collared Doves and even Starlings are zooming in out out all day long like a squadron of StukasI've tried nets,but the birds get tangled in it. I've hung CD's up, but the reflected lights are annoying to us not them. And one year I sat for hours giving them the hose blast as they came to dine:D......Now I cover just a branch or two and fingers crossed at least I get to sample a few.

 

they get my apples, too :( i thought about a wooden framed wire cage, but its getting hubby to make one! lol