I've seen some people drape netting over the garden. I have no experience with using it personally since the birds don't bother my tomatoes... well, the fruit anyways.

Here's a link to bird netting offered by DuPont, I'm sure there are other suppliers of similar material though.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bird Netting

If you search 'bird control' here you'll find all kinds of suggestions ranging from rubber snakes, plastic owls, bird netting, inexpensive tulle/netting fabric draped over the plants, dogs/cats, motion activated sprinklers, bright flashing aluminum ribbons or pinwheels tied to the cage/stake, chicken wire tents, dusting with lime, anything that makes a sound like aluminum pie plates tied to blow in the wind, etc.

Dave

I've been told that if you give them access to water (bird bath or fountain), they will leave the tomatoes alone. They don't bother mine. But I have a fountain - that may or may not be the reason.

I am of similar opinion as susan.
In the summer birds are not desparate for foods, but for drinks. I have lots and lots of birds around me. They look for worms, insects and seeds.
And the birds are very smart and shy and if they see you, they will know you.
I have made a bird bath in a nice shade for them and they use it.

But still there are preventive ways, as already have been suggested.
You can harvest your matore before they are fully ripen , soft and juicy.
Eepecially the ones that are tempting and inviting.

There are lots of ways to keep birds away.

But lately I've been getting good practice with a blowgun. Birds, chipmunks, squirrels, I'm getting better at hitting them more often. If starlings or other fruit-eating birds get into the community garden where I'm growing stuff, I'll be sitting out there with a blowgun waiting for them. XD

ahahaha catman, I could just see you sitting outside in tribal garb shooting blowdarts at birds :)

Thanks for that!

nat

I tried the netting thing but had trouble with the plant parts growing thru it and making it hard to open back up. For me the birds seem to know when to "pick" a tomato, so I try to get out and get the ripe ones early before they visit for their daily shopping trip. I encourage the neighborhood cats to visit as well.