...I think I may have blogged about this last year..but since it's a nifty trick that works, maybe it's worth another mention.
For those of you lucky enough (and smart enough) to plant your own strawberry patch (pot, corner, etc)...right about now in our area, you should see the white petals fall to the ground with each windy Spring day, and your green berries start to grow larger daily.
Dilemma? If you have berries, you will have birds
...AND birds like berries as much as we do.
While you can certainly use a golf ball, ping pong ball or anything round...a walnut shell looks much nicer and more realistic. It also won't roll! :)
Get creative in painting and adding as much detail as you want to your round hard object that you will set in your berry patch. Remember to move it around every few days.
Your birds will be intrigued and attracted to this bright colored 'berry'; however they will learn quickly, that you are the worst back yard farmer in the area . News will spread quickly that your berries are harder than rocks (errr... walnuts). Hence, when your REAL berries ripen up, you have decreased the chance of berry robbing in your garden!
Try it! I promise, it works! :)