I'm creating a butterfly garden, how do i pretect them from the birds?
Question:i have a neighbor who is obsessed with feeding the birds, is there anything i can do to protect the larve .
Answers:
I grow butterflies and unfortunately there is nothing you can do to protect them from birds once they are flying.
You can protect them as larvae and in the egg and chrysalis stage by keeping them in incubators, but once they are out in the environment, they are on their own.
Birds aren't the only problem as they can fall victim to a virus, microbial diseases, spiders, lizards, mantids as well as other predatory insects that lay their eggs inside the larvae and some frogs and ants.
Humans are their worst enemies because they have completely removed so much habitat with development and because of their indiscriminant use of pesticides.
You are doing a wonderful thing by growing plants that will feed them and give them a place to rest--if you are growing host plants, you are giving them a place to raise their young also.
Of course, you could build a mesh covering and sides around your garden if it isn't to large and the butterflies could live out their entire life cycle inside it if you have the right plant mix.
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That's pretty tough. If it's your front yard, a scarecrow wouldn't really work, so I'd try putting up a statue of some type of bird of prey(like an owl). Other than that, I don't think there's much you could do. Screen it in? :)
If you go to www. floridayards.org you will find a wealth of information on how to build and landscape a wildlife friendly yard.
They will be fine. I have many plants to attract butterflies, which I do, and 3 bird feeders. The feeders are in a different part of the yard, but the butterflies come to the flower pots right by the feeders, too. So do the hummingbirds.
Just enjoy...
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