This year we have a problem with birds (mainly Californian Quail) eating the tops of beans, carrots, radishes and any other green vegetable that takes their fancy. This has never occurred before. Is there a solution other than covering the whole garden?

The quail population in your area must have expanded and so now you have a problem.

• The obvious deterrent would be to use bird netting to keep them away, but birds do still tend to find a way in, it may help slow them down.
• Have you considered frames with netting or plastic that fit over garden beds, depending upon the size of your vegetable garden this might work, have a look online as there are many different types. 
• Shiny objects that blow in the wind such as tin foil trays, old CDs, shiny humming tape, may be worth a try
• You can purchase blow-up owls or large balls with eyes painted on them that scare the birds away. These are available from hardware stores, garden centres and farm merchants as they are used in vineyards.
• You could try whirling garden spinners, they have ornamental/novelty value and work for a while but the birds may get used to it quickly. 
• Tie plastic (or similar) bags to stakes that will flutter in the wind and scare the birds off.
• You could try feeding the birds with Tui Wild Bird seed in another area of the garden and hope that keeps them away from the vegetable garden.
• Creating a barrier of twigs and sticks around the plants may work until the plants are established.

Read the Tui Vegetable Growing Guide

More vegetable frequently asked questions