Bad Manners and Brimstone

Someone mentioned not having found anything to do with old CDs.  Hearing that apple farmers will put reflective strips in their apple trees, to blow in the wind and scare off birds and wondering if some such would work in a cherry tree, I started a new project.

I create cords using kumihimo, from 3 to 6 feet long.  One end gets flattened out and glued between two CDs (reflective sides out).  At the other end I 3-strand braid the ribbons/cords into two cords.  That end I tie to a branch in the tree, letting the CDs dangle.  They do blow in the wind and, in the sun, cast reflections.  I actually think they look quite nice, hanging in the tree.  And the birds quite enjoy watching them as they eat the cherries.

Still, one way to re-use old CDs.

I had wondered if they might deter deer, but if birds aren't scared of CDs, I can't imagine those pesky marauders being put off.

Still, it looks a fun thing to try, and may even use up some of my spare yarn problem stash!

Wow - now that is funny!!  The birds at my house would probably love those also.  Last year I cut up some fuzzy pink yarn and put it on my front porch to see if the birds would take it for nests.  Yep they took it, there was a nest right in front of my kitchen window with bits of pink here and there.  Very cute.  Little robbers

What sort of yarn, Runningstar?  I know you wrote fuzzy pink, but was it acrylic, mohair, sheep's wool?  I'm only asking because I put some red and yellow snippets out last year, and had absolutely no takers.

When I had long hair, I used to snip that into similar lengths and they fought over that!  I still occasionally dislodge an old nest and marvel that the bird chose my hair [clearly, no snobbery when it comes to grey hair! ] when they could have chosen the pretty yarn...

Quote from: Chez Miriam on January 02, 2020, 08:56:31 am

Quote from: Runningstar on January 01, 2020, 05:05:29 pm

Wow - now that is funny!!  The birds at my house would probably love those also.  Last year I cut up some fuzzy pink yarn and put it on my front porch to see if the birds would take it for nests.  Yep they took it, there was a nest right in front of my kitchen window with bits of pink here and there.  Very cute.  Little robbers

What sort of yarn, Runningstar?  I know you wrote fuzzy pink, but was it acrylic, mohair, sheep's wool?  I'm only asking because I put some red and yellow snippets out last year, and had absolutely no takers.

When I had long hair, I used to snip that into similar lengths and they fought over that!  I still occasionally dislodge an old nest and marvel that the bird chose my hair [clearly, no snobbery when it comes to grey hair! ] when they could have chosen the pretty yarn...

It was from a kit for little girls, I think that it was acrylic.  It was like a Barbie doll pink and it was shimmery and extremely fuzzy - very fancy.  Maybe your birds wanted something more like that! 

Drat, now I have to go shopping for Barbie-pleasing yarn in the hopes the birds like it!!

This looks interesting, something I would like to try!