Bird netting is a great way to go. By planning for it from the start, you can have a nice result. I once had an area like this. I used 1/2 inch galvanized hardware cloth because I needed hail protection as well as bird exclusion. 12 ft is a good height. You can keep anything to that height by using the dwarfing rootstocks avaliable today.

Just be sure whatever size opening you use will keep out all the problem birds. My biggest problem has been what I call house finches. They are pretty small birds. One inch openings might keep everything out but I'd be nervous at that size. You can also buy many types of bird netting made out of various synthetic fibers. But a galvanized bird netting should last longer and not sag as much.

Good luck with your new orchard!!

The Fruitnut

Hi Fruitnut,
Thank you for your advice. I'm glad to see that you think my idea is practical, and that indeed, you've done it yourself. I agree with your assessment of the wire needed. It will be a bit of work to put it up but I feel the benefits will be wonderful. This way, the cherries will actually be mine!
Thank you again for your advice,
Carole

I've tried using the bird netting as well over my blueberry plants. The plants were growing in pots, so I crowded the pots together and just threw the netting over them, overlapping as needed and clipping the overlap with clothes pins. The birds were able to reach some berries. It was hard to pick some berries, having to unclip the netting to get at them, then clip it back. The netting was a tangled mess by the end of the season, with the bushes growing through it, so I just cut it off and threw it away after the crop was gone. Your way sounds better. Just be sure you can get at your fruit to pick it.

Haven't tried it on cherries but I'd suggest that if you build the overhead support structure you may also plan to kill a few birds with one stone, so to speak. Allow for a plastic cover during the last few weeks to prevent rains from splitting ripening fruits. You might also want to seal the base to keep raccoons, squirrels and other animals out as well.

All of these measures are only needed during the last few weeks of fruit development-- before harvest. But planning on a tree management strategy should begin even before trees are selected.

Thanks for the great ideas. Since I'm having to start a new orchard, I thought maybe I can solve some of my current problems. Birds ruining my crop is the biggest problem I have had thus far.
bmoser, how would the base need to be sealed to keep out squirrels, etc? I hadn't thought about small animals but I can see now that I need to plan for them also. Thank you for bringing them up.
I see now that I need more in depth planning for this new orchard.

Carole

The idea is not bad but it will be a expensive undertaking and the looks of it is another thing.

Coming from a farm in Switzerland, I sure had plenty of bird encounters on cherry trees, mostly European Starlings. There are tons measures one can imply to keep birds out, some are better then others, anything you will do is better then none.
From what I remember.....we had large fire crackers on a long string hung in trees, they would go off about ones
every hour or so, sometimes the kids would guard the trees with a 22 or air gun, sure, birds and man had to share, and when you can grow more then one tree, there will be more cherries you can share.
Some farms had canons set up, you could set them at any time interval you desired, now, I see most farms have the whole tree in netting, this is the sort of thing I would do.
If you grow in a hale prone region or too much rain, something like this below would be good, it's really
catching on in some parts of Europe.
Konrad

Here is a link that might be useful: Ideas...

Just found another site..
Again, mostly for hail and too much water damage.

Here is a link that might be useful: another one

I think it's a great idea. Let us know what kind of structure you come up with. There is also a netting material that they use to make pool fences that lasts for 10 years even in our sun which destroys most everything in record time. Might be worth looking into.

I'm not really worried about the expense. I feel it's worth it and I don't believe it will be all that much. The largest expense will be for the posts and there is a building salvage yard in our area. As far as the way it looks, I feel it will look just fine. A practical solution to a really bothersome problem.
softmentor, thank you for the info on the pool netting. I'll look into it. What I've been considering is either aviary wire or galvanized hardware cloth. I've used both materials when I had outdoor aviaries. I used to breed budgerigars. Most people call them parakeets. I've used mostly 1/2 inch aviary wire. It lasted for years, I can't really remember how long. It's been a long time. They now make it in a plastic coated version that is supposed to to be impervious to weather. The galvanized hardware cloth is sturdier, stronger, more ridged. As I envision it, I see tall (12 foot) posts covered with netting or wire on all sides and on top with a large door for access. I will need to seal the bottom against small animals. I will pre-run water piping to the area. I intend to plant my trees in two or three tree clusters, planting each tree in the cluster 12 to 18 inches apart. This way I maximize the number of trees I can place in any given area and polinization is improved. I know this works because I have been planting this way for the last 18 years. Small fruits can go along the sides.
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions to improve my ideas, I would really enjoy it if you would join this discussion.
Thank you all.
Carole

A high tunnel over dwarf cherry trees is basically what I had in mind. I think Penn State has done some testing on this approach.

With a high tunnel sealing the sides for varmints, especially raccoons, only needs to be done during evenings. These structures usually have rollup sides so the sides could be rolled down for the evenings as ripening begins.

If birds are your only problem the Zon propane cannons or bird distress calls can work. I have a few of the cannons and use them sparingly because they are loud and somehow birds will even time their feeding attacks between blasts.

Look at this website - it's been done in Australia with fruit trees espaliered on trellises - the white cockatoos are a plague there:

http://www.rarefruit-sa.org.au/Espalier/Frame/Frame.htm

You could try fishing nets instead of hardware cloth. They come in some really big pieces and you can get just about any size mesh you want. I saw some cherry orchards done like this in South Carolina when I lived there. They would stretch steel cable between posts to form a good support system and tie the fishing net to the cables. The net is meant to last for quite a while in a saltwater enviroment and it doesn't sag much once it's stretched tight.

I suggest you get on the internet and find woven propalyne bird netting if the wire isn't necessary for its strength. It is white usually with green stripes to help position it. It's much easier to use and stronger than the black mono-filament. Birds can see it and so don't get tangled in it as with the monofilament. I think Midwest Vinyard Supplies has it.

greenwitch,
Yes! That is exactly what I have in mind. Thank you for the great photos. That is one strong cage. I have a pet cockatoo, destruction is his middle name and puzzles are the best toys ever. I imagine an entire flock would test that cage to find all the weak spots! I'm glad I don't have to battle parrots.
I'm going to check out various materials for the netting, I'm getting so many great ideas. Fishing nets are very interesting. Sturdy, should last well. I wonder if they would rot in the sun. The netting does have to be somewhat strong in that it has to be stretched tight to avoid getting the birds entangled in it. I want the birds to be safe also, just safe on the opposite side of the cage from my fruit.
Thank you all very much for all the great ideas. Any others? I'll post pictures when I get it done.
Carole

In France last year I saw whole orchards covered with the white plastic netting as mentioned by harvestman. Al