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Location

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Date Posted

Williamsport, Pa.

looked like my plants got hit hard by hail..seeing all kinds of sparrows everytime i go to the patch.. seeing droppings on the leaves... has anyone ever heard of birds pecking leaves??

6/25/2006 5:46:04 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

I frequently have sparrows in the patch but I can't say that I have ever been able to blame any damage on them.

6/25/2006 6:30:29 PM

Massachusetts

They'll show up for me any day now...... The young ones leave the nest and all seem to flock together 20-30 at a time. They root around in the patch and peck at the leaves. Usually lasts @ 3-5 days then their gone. You won't notice any damage untill the leaves get a foot across and look like swiss cheese. Time to string up a few tin pie plates... discourages them a bit. Good Luck....Steve

6/25/2006 7:05:33 PM

[email protected]

The just crap all over whichever car or truck is parked under their favorite roosting branch here. They've never bothered with our pumpkins. Windmills & pie-plates sound reasonable.

6/25/2006 7:32:32 PM

Rhode Island

I'd have to say D all the above!!!!!! I've a sparrow house patchside and ....knock on wood...no problems...the babies are making noise..they'll be gone soon!

6/25/2006 9:24:53 PM

Long Island,New York

See my diary from last year. First week of July usually here.

6/25/2006 10:31:48 PM

[email protected]

I also get nailed with birds pecking the leaves. I really had a big problem last two years I grew long gourds because the vines crawled up into the hedgerow (12 ft tall pine hedgerow) and blocked some of thier entrances to the nests. Hoping with the deletion of gourds in my patch I won;t see that prob any more.

6/25/2006 11:21:36 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I myself, have never had problems with sparrows in the pumpkin patch. But very close I see the sparrows quite often on the growing sunflowers and the beans, I saw a sparrow pull a bean out of the ground that was just sprouting. So if sparrows will spend some time around other sections of the garden I do not see why they would not peck at the pumpkin leaves. I also have a problem with @#$%^&* chipmunks in the garden but that is another story. Good luck Scottie.

6/26/2006 12:15:57 AM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

I always have problems with birds. I have to cover every pumpkin with a clothes basket (see diary from last year) or they are toast. I got a little lazy this year and the suckers got 2 of mine.....not again

6/26/2006 8:45:23 AM

Western NY

it could be worse, check out this video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6815781973393100875

6/26/2006 1:11:38 PM

Utah

this year magpie's are cause some damage to my patch. the land on leaves and peck at the tine females...
the strange thing is that they have been around my area forever but until now they haven't done any damage!

6/26/2006 1:43:26 PM

Williamsport, Pa.

thanks for the replys and input, scott

6/26/2006 9:18:53 PM

Indiana

get on ebay and get a sparrow trap and kill the %$#%$^&&'s they kill bluebirds and purple martin babies. I got rid of 110 last year and 35 so far this year. I freeze them and donate them to a Raptor rehab place.
Steve

6/27/2006 9:41:39 AM