What is bird netting?
Bird netting is a mesh material that is used to prevent birds from accessing certain areas. It comes in a variety of sizes and can be used in many different applications. Bird netting is often made out of nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, or other durable and UV-resistant synthetic materials. The apertures in the mesh are small enough that birds cannot fly through them or get their beaks stuck. However, the holes are large enough to allow sunlight, air, and precipitation to pass through. This makes bird netting an ideal solution for protecting crops, buildings, boats, and other property from bird damage without obscuring light or airflow.
Types of Bird Netting
There are a few main types of bird netting:
– Heavy-duty bird netting – This type of netting has a small mesh size and thicker twine. It’s extremely durable and typically used for permanent outdoor installations like building facades.
– Agricultural bird netting – With a lighter mesh and twine size, ag netting is designed to protect crops and fruit trees. It’s lightweight and easy to drape over plants.
– Pond netting – Made to protect ponds and water features from birds, pond nets have mesh sizes small enough to keep out songbirds. The material is coated to resist UV damage.
– Lightweight poly netting – Very thin and pliable, poly netting can be used to make temporary covers for plants, boats, and other applications. It’s more prone to damage than heavier-duty nets.
– Reusable bird net bags – Drawstring net bags can be slipped over fruit trees or other small plants, then removed and stored when not needed.
Bird Netting Applications
There are many potential uses for bird netting around your home and garden, including:
– Protecting vegetable gardens and fruit trees/bushes from birds looking for food. Draping agricultural netting over plants prevents birds from snacking on ripening fruits and vegetables.
– Stopping birds from nesting in inconvenient spots like rain gutters, eaves, porch railings, boat docks, etc. Permanent heavy-duty netting can be installed as a physical barrier.
– Deterring pigeons or seagulls from landing and roosting on buildings and statues. Netting can be strategically placed where birds like to congregate.
– Keeping birds away from ponds and ornamental water features. Pond netting will prevent them from drinking the water or making a mess.
– Discouraging woodpeckers from damaging homes and structures. Netting installments can shield vulnerable areas.
– Protecting cars and outdoor furniture from bird droppings which can damage paint and fabric. Lightweight poly nets work well for temporary coverage.
– Stopping birds from nesting in crawl spaces, attics, and other unwanted indoor locations. Carefully installed nets can physically block access.
Should you install bird netting?
Here are some key considerations when deciding if bird netting is right for your purposes:
Pros of Using Bird Netting
– Effective deterrent – Properly installed netting provides an impenetrable physical barrier that discourages birds from entering protected areas.
– Long-lasting – Quality bird netting is designed to withstand years of exposure to the elements with minimal degradation.
– Low maintenance – Once netting is set up, there’s minimal upkeep required apart from occasional repairs.
– Safer than spikes or electric shock – Netting is a humane way to repel birds without harming them.
– Allows light and airflow – The mesh construction doesn’t obstruct sunlight or ventilation like solid covers would.
– Flexible installation – Netting can be adapted to protect all sorts of spaces in temporary or permanent setups.
– Cost effective – Purchasing bird netting is often cheaper than continually cleaning up or repairing bird damage.
Cons of Using Bird Netting
– Upfront cost – The netting itself can be a bit pricey, especially for large coverage areas.
– Labor-intensive installation – Attaching netting properly and tautly takes time and effort. May require equipment like ladders or scaffolding.
– Ongoing maintenance – Netting needs to be checked routinely for rips, loose sections, debris buildup, etc. Repairs may be necessary.
– Not attractive – The mesh material is not the most aesthetically pleasing. Can obstruct views.
– Can trap birds – Improperly installed nets could accidentally entangle birds. Need safe entry/exit points.
– Short lifespan – Cheaper netting may start sagging or degrading after 1-2 seasons. Requires replacement.
– Weather considerations – Netting must be taken down before heavy snow or ice to prevent collapse. Storms may damage netting.
Key Factors in Deciding
When weighing whether to install bird netting, here are some important factors to consider:
– Severity of bird problem – How problematic is the bird activity? What’s the extent of damage or nuisance? Are deterrents like shiny objects or predator decoys effective enough?
– Type of space needing protection – Is it for fruit crops, a water feature, the whole building facade? The layout and size will determine amount and type of netting needed.
– Permanence required – Is this a temporary or seasonal solution? Or does the netting need to be left in place year-round? Durability requirements differ.
– Aesthetic concerns – Will the look of netting be an issue? Is minimizing visibility important? This may limit netting options.
– Installation feasibility – Is the installation location accessible? What methods and hardware will be needed? Professional help may be required.
– Maintenance commitment – Are you prepared to regularly inspect netting and make repairs as needed? Neglected netting will fail.
– Local wildlife regulations – Make sure bird netting complies with any laws protecting indigenous bird species. Proper installation is key.
– Cost vs. benefit – Weigh upfront netting costs against long-term savings from less bird damage. Calculate the potential return on investment.
Installation Tips for Bird Netting
Proper installation is crucial for bird netting to be effective. Here are some top tips:
Measure Twice, Cut Once
– Carefully measure the area needing coverage and cut the netting to fit with several extra inches for attachment and overlap. It’s easy to add more later, hard to cut off excess.
Securely Fasten All Edges
– Use zip ties, strong cord, or stainless steel staples/nails to firmly fasten netting edges to a framework or solid surface all the way around. No gaps or loose sections for birds to exploit.
Maintain Tautness
– Keep netting pulled tightly from all sides so there’s no sagging material for birds to impact or get tangled in. Periodically check for and remove any slack.
Seal Off Entry Points
– Cover all potential access holes into covered areas, like weep holes in window frames or where pipes meet walls. Birds are resourceful at finding unprotected openings.
Overlap Netting Seams
– Where multiple netting sections meet, overlap the pieces by at least 6 inches and securely fasten to eliminate gaps in coverage.
Add Protective Casing
– Enclose free netting edges with plastic spirals or add mesh casings. This prevents fraying from weather exposure or bird beaks trying to enter through the edge weave.
Incorporate Maintenance Access
– Build in sections that can open or detach for periodic net inspection, cleaning out debris, and replacing damaged netting as needed.
Conclusion
Installing bird netting can be an effective solution for protecting your home, garden, and valuables from bird damage in a humane, eco-friendly way. It deters birds without harming them or severely obstructing light and airflow. When purchased and installed correctly for the specific application, quality bird netting should provide years of reliable protection. Just be prepared to regularly inspect for needed repairs. And always take care not to accidentally trap birds under loose netting. With some planning and periodic maintenance, bird netting can be an affordable investment for preventing pesky problems caused by problem birds around your property.
Example Bird Netting Cost Analysis
Here is an example cost-benefit analysis for installing bird netting to protect a small vegetable garden measuring 20ft x 10ft:
| Item | Cost |
| Agricultural bird netting, 24ft x 40ft | $45 |
| Garden staples, pack of 100 | $8 |
| Twine for edges | $3 |
| Zip ties, pack of 100 | $5 |
| Total Material Cost | $61 |
| Estimated savings from reduced crop loss | $200 per year |
With an upfront investment of around $60, using bird netting could save $200 per year in protecting vegetable crops from bird damage. The netting should last around 5 years before needing full replacement. So the $60 investment would yield around $1000 in produce savings over its lifespan. This simple cost analysis shows bird netting can provide an excellent return on investment for protecting backyard garden yields.
