North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jim Fruth <jfruth@uslink.net>]

    When my Nanking Cherry bushes are done flowering, I hang red, plastic
beads in the bushes using homemade hooks that make the beads easy to remove
(from the bush).  The birds grab those beads scattering them all over the
orchard and, every few days, I gather them up and re-hang them on the cherry
bushes.
    By the time the cherries start to ripen, the birds seem to be convinced
that red things are inedible.  The beads are a good imitation of the
cherries because they fool visitors and the pickers.  Thereafter, the birds
avoid all other red fruits until..............................the fledglings
leave the nest - by that time most of the red fruits have been harvested.
-- 

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN
www.bberryfarm.com
Jams, Jellies and Syrups
(218)568-8483 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My cell]