The birds have discovered the wine grapes. Every time I walked under the arbor a little flurry of rising wings could be heard. The pea hens are residing in the peacock penthouse because last year they ate a third of my crop and now the sparrows are taking advantage. Serious measures had to be taken.
So I have brought in reinforcements.
Sundog uses these stern fellows to keep the birds off her blackberries. TonTon actually growled at them.
After the dogs had given them warnings about farmy behaviour, I filled the Glaring Owls bellies with dirt and sat them on the poles that support the grape vines.
The change was instant. The sparrows, steered clear and the starlings gave them a wide birth. Immediately. Frankly I would too. These guys are not mucking around.
The instructions say: Only put the owls out when it is time to scare away the birds and move them frequently so the grape thieves do not get used to them. After the harvest put them back in the box ’til next year. They are 18 inches (48cm) high and look stunning out in the gardens.
Impressive aren’t they. Their heads bob about in the slight breeze, turning on their shoulders like feathered brooding back up singers borrowed from the Exorcist’s Green Room.
Good morning. How are you all this morning? The sun has not yet risen into my hazy cloudy sky. Another glorious hot day is forecast. Of course now that the hay is cut, the best hay, threats of showers and thunderstorms have crept into the forecast. Friday and Saturday will be dicey. So the tension has been cranked up a level.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
your friend on the farm, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “The Bobble Headed Owls have come. Be afraid. Be very afraid!”
What a great idea. I must see if our local Bunnings or one of the garden centres have these.
Those are perfect! Do they have anything that will keep a ground hog out of your beds—something a bit lower to the ground. 🙂
Ha ha !! Maybe get the owls to look into the holes! I don’t know, we don’t have them here, but a ground hog in your soil means you soil is alive and well? c
I’ve never seen the bobble-head ones. They appear more realistic than solid ones. I see them on some rooftops, here, to deter pigeons, but they are never moved and the pigeons pay them no mind.