Just before he left, Art had one last project to do. Remember how the birds were eating our papayas? We've looked at all the neighbors' papaya trees and they don't have the same problem we do. We know why. We have the sweetest tree in the neighborhood!
It's true. I really think we do. It's been the sweetest papayas we've had so far and even better than the ones from the farmers markets.
The birds know it and are determined to have it. Art is just as determined to keep his fruit. The birds don't just eat the ripe ones. They've been pecking at ALL of them to see if any might be ready even though the fruit is still green. The last straw came when they actually pecked at the thick stem of the tiny baby papaya and let it drop to the ground. How nasty and greedy is that?
Thank you, everybody for your recommendations about using the bird net. We didn't think it would work because the holes in the net are too big and the birds would still be able to peck right through. Therefore, Art had the bright idea to make a cover using the sort of material they use for landscaping. Well... we happened to have some in the tool shed.
First he had me sew a channel into the top and bottom to create a covering for the papayas so that the birds couldn't see the fruit.
Then he got on a ladder and tied the covering on it. I hope it works. The birds can't see the fruit well, but then neither can we so we'll have to keep going up the ladder to check.
Before he left, Art checked his handiwork one last time. "Don't worry," he told mom. "The birds need to perch in order to eat it. This will work."
After he left, she chuckled and said, "I don't think so."
Good luck! I hope it works.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to meet you, Kay. I've visited Hawaii once a couple pf years ago and was impressed by the geography and friendly people.
ReplyDeleteYours is a fascinating story, your fruit so different from ours in
Australia but the problem of birds spoiling fruit applies in most places I imagine.
Oh, I hope it works. There is nothing better than sweet papaya fresh off the tree. Just ask the birds, they'll tell you.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a pretty tree. I hope the rather smart covers work for you.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck !Hope it works .
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck. We used to have a couple of big cherry trees and it was a battle to see who got most of them--the birds or us. I'll be waiting to see whether Art or your Mom is right.
ReplyDeleteLooks interesting. We'll see, won't we?
ReplyDeleteWell, I sure do hope it works.
ReplyDeleteoh that's kind of funny, hope it works! Man against the birds!
ReplyDeleteI hope it works, too! Do let us know! Such a beautiful tree it is!! Enjoy your weekend, Kay!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Hope it works!
ReplyDelete*Chuckle*
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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That's a clever solution to the papaya problem.
ReplyDeleteReminds me that I have to go out and wrap all my figs in cheesecloth.
I wonder if strips of aluminum foil would work.
Blessings.....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit.
Oh we had lots of papaya trees, what we call poupo but they are not as huge as these ones. They were small.
Oh sorry about the bird papaya eaters they are just trying to survive, i know if only they would leave you some eh... hehe. Reminds me of my fight to keep the pigeons away from my balcony. I have a post that tells the tails.
Good luck, i hope your stategy works, perhaps if it does you can leave one for them to have as a treat. hehe...
Sure hope the tent over the fruit works. It must be very frustrating to lose perfectly good ( and sweet) fruit.
ReplyDeleteHope it works! FYI: you can get bird netting with very tiny holes so the birds wouldn't be able to get their beaks through it-kind of like a mesh it is. Atleast we have it here in NC, maybe not in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteSherri: Thanks a bunch. We looked up bird screens on the web and thought there was only that one bigger holed type. If this doesn't work, we'll try to look for the smaller holed variety. I can already see some pecking on the bottom fruit.
ReplyDeletegreedy birds but you are smarter...lol!
ReplyDeleteArt is so clever and maybe it will protect the majority of the fruit. I do hope it works. Let us know.
ReplyDeleteWell it likes like there are still fruit that are unprotected, but in enlarging the pic I see that the screen is over the more mature fruit.
ReplyDeleteIt is annoying to have to go up the ladder to check on the fruit, but even more annoying to have the birds ruin them.
Good luck.
I can't help wondering who was correct, your DH or your Mom, lol.
ReplyDeleteBut doesn't the fruit need sun? Won't that block it?
ReplyDeleteQuilly: Gosh... I don't know... I guess I'll find out. Mom thinks the fruit has actually grown in the two days that the cover has been up and is now sticking out a bit. And of course, the birds have already pecked at what they can see. They didn't have to perch at all.
ReplyDeleteHmm, the fruit will ripen in the cupboard if you pull it down green, a few days early.
ReplyDeleteI sit it on the kitchen bench, or wrap it in newspaper.
The simplest implement is used to bring it down. An ice bucket (like restaurants chill your wine in) mainly chosen for the narrow bottom wide top, screwed firmly to a long pole (rake handle).
The shape of the bucket allows you to jiggle it under the riper fruits, and break them off.
You soon get the knack of doing it.
It is the only thing I can do. The possums have defeated EVERY OTHER trick that has been tried. I've even set up netting all around the fruit (hard work) and ELECTRIFIED the netting with cattle strength electric fence.
Didn't work, the just jumped onto the tree with such force they broke the ENTIRE TREE off halfway up!
OK! That's it! I'm going up the ladder and will yank that papaya down tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI sure hope this works,, can't wait to find out, very clever!
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever idea and I hope it works too.
ReplyDelete