Birds can be one of the reasons behind the damage caused to your outdoor furniture. They not only mess with the patio but also cause noise issues, make the space dirty, property damage with their droppings, and spread diseases.
To keep birds off your patio, consider implementing various deterrents. Bird netting can effectively block birds from accessing your patio area.
Wind chimes create noise and movement, which can scare birds away. Applying sealant to outdoor furniture makes surfaces less appealing for birds to perch on.
Certain fragrances, like citrus or vinegar, can deter birds due to their unpleasant smell. Additionally, keeping food indoors reduces the attractiveness of your patio to birds.
Regular pruning of greenery removes potential nesting spots, while shiny or reflective ornaments can visually deter birds. Installing awnings or a canopy provides physical barriers that birds cannot easily access.
1. Use Bird Net
You can use a bird net to stop the birds from landing on the patio or deck. You can easily purchase these bird nets from the local hardware shop and install them following the user manual. So, drape the net on your desired area and secure the place.
2. Hanging Wind Chimes
If you have thought that wind chimes can only be used for decoration purposes, then think again. Using wind chimes near patios can help to deter birds from roosting on the furniture. The birds cannot communicate and also feel disturbed by the sound of the wind chimes, thus, they do not come back.
Also, the movement of the wind chimes scares the birds and keeps them away from the patio. It is the unpredictable nature of the hanging wind chimes that alarms the birds and also creates a visual disturbance.
Mostly, birds that are timid and small, get startled by the presence of wind chimes. Thus, You have to choose one that has a high-pitched tone and comes with a reflective or metallic finish. This process simply discourages the birds and does not harm them.
3. Apply Sealant on Outdoor Furniture
If your patio is made of either wood plastic or metal, then based on the material you can use a sealant that would prevent the bird poops from damaging the furniture. It is recommended to use high-quality deck oil, which would keep the bird off the patio and also make the outdoors look pristine.
4. Apply Fragrances
Birds do not like the fragrance of peppermint or citronella, so spraying these fragrances on your patio would definitely keep the birds away. You can either get them in spray form or oil form or even choose to burn scented candles, everything would work in your favor.
5. Install a Fake Owl
Nothing can be more scary for the birds than a predator being seated near the patio. Installing a fake owl, who is a natural predator, discourages birds from perching near the outdoor furniture. You need to get a life-sized fake owl, which would be rotating and mimicking real-life movements.
You can also include sound effects to maximize the effect of steering away the birds. You need to move the fake owl periodically, otherwise, birds being smart creatures would realize that the predator is not real.
6. Never Keep Food on the Patio
Food would definitely attract a flock of birds and they can become visitors every day. So, before you leave the patio, put away all the food items that you have been munching while sitting on it. Also, clean the area and remove breadcrumbs and food debris.
You have to keep the place clean and in an orderly format, which is not appealing to the feathered friends. While cleaning the clutters, include piles of leaves lying around, unused food bows, and wood stacks, where birds in general tend to find shelter.
7. Keep a Limited Amount of Greeny
Green shrubs and bushes are kept around the patio to enhance the beauty of the space, but too much greenery can also attract birds and these feathered visitors would definitely mess without the patio.
You need to prune the trees so that the birds can be kept away from roosting on the outdoor furniture. Try to remove trees that bear seeds and berries or have a dense shrub by appearances, as birds use them as their hideouts or building nests.
8. Hang Reflective Ornaments
Hanging reflective or shiny objects would definitely scare the birds. You can choose something decorative so that it serves the dual purpose of keeping birds away and also making the place look aesthetic.
Birds are sensitive to visual stimuli, so you can try hanging aluminum foil,
CDs or DVDs, as these are reflective objects, and when hung, they sway in the wind and as the sunlight hits these items, random flashes of light are generated.
Thus, the birds treat these signs as potential dangers and stay away from this unstable environment. This is the most practical, effortless, environmentally friendly, and within-budget solution to keep birds off the patio.
9. Provide an Alternative Source of Perching
You can install a birdbath or a bird feeder away from the patio, to keep the birds away and distracted from the wooden furniture. Thus, the birds would not get attracted to your expensive furniture, as they would have an alternative source of water, food, and entertainment.
10. Install Anti-bird spikes
You can also try to install anti-bird spikes which are usually made of either plastic or metals and are safe and effective. The spikes have a blunt end which is designed to keep the birds from perching on them. The spikes would not injure the birds but rather they would feel uncomfortable sitting or landing on them.
You can install these anti-bird spikes on porch ledges, rooflines, railings, or places where the birds mostly perch or visit. These are a long-term solution as they are low maintenance and also weather resistant.
11. Install a Canopy
If the patio or deck is kept in an open area, then you need to install a canopy or awnings which would prevent the birds from landing on the patio and also pooping on them. If you don’t want to be under direct sunlight and also keep the furniture protected from rain and snow, then nothing would be a better idea than a much-needed shade.
Can You Use Acoustic Bird Deterrents?
Yes, acoustic bird deterrents can be used to keep birds away. There are two types of bird repellents, sonic and ultrasonic. Sonic systems use natural sound, such as of foxes and predators and the ultrasonic systems use high-frequency sound that is audible to the birds and appears like a loud explosion and these are not audible to humans.
Is There Any Chemical that Can Keep Birds Away?
Yes, methyl anthranilate is an active chemical in some of the bird deterrents against or solutions. whose taste and smell are not liked by the birds as it affects their trigeminal systems. However, you need to use these chemical agents with caution and follow the usage manual otherwise it can severely affect the bird.
