I read that if you leave a bowl of water next to your tomato plants the birds will leave the tomatoes alone and just drink the water. Has anyone ever tried this? I have a motion sensor sprinkler to keep deer, bunnies, etc out of my garden but the birds are too small to set it off. I've put out grocery bags, aluminum pans, fake owls, windmills, everything! Nothing works. Any tips??

I haven't tried the bowl of water, but I have to wrap chicken wire around tomato cages until my plants are bigger. After that the birds don't bother them.

I cut the bottom off a clear plastic bag and place that over the tomato cage.

Never had a bird ever bother my tomatoes.

Lucky! We have a TON of birds.

I don't think I could find any clear plastic bags big enough for my tomato plants.

When I lived in the South the birds would peck the ripe tomatoes if we were having a drought. I'd try leaving a water source nearby. But if they have water or are after green tomatoes I don't think it will help. Good luck!

Bird netting was the only thing that worked to save my tomatoes from the birds.

I have never had a problem either. I do maintain bird baths in the general area. maybe a specific type of bird that likes tomatoes.

I could try bird netting! But first I'll put some bowls of water out and see if that works. Thanks y'all!

Btw they aren't picking at the green tomatoes. Just the red. We've been out every day picking the "almost red" ones lol.. just to get them before the birds. Then we let them ripe inside. But my 3 year old really enjoys eating them right off the plant.

The thing with the owl. He never moves. Birds figure it out after awhile. You have to move owl every couple days. Then they work.
Take your owl inside for a couple days. Then put him out. And move him around garden. Every day if needed. I'll bet it does the trick
😎😎😎

Like Durgan and Farmerdill, I've never had a problem, either -- and we have LOTS of birds around, many of which spend a lot of time digging around in the garden for bugs and worms. Does anyone know what kind of birds are actually going after the tomatoes?

There are birds constantly in my garden and in my tomato plants looking for bugs I guess. They don't bother the tomatoes but I do have lots of watering sources around the garden for them.

The chipmunk does grab some fruit now and then.

Good to know. Thank y'all so much for the advice. I'll put more water sources out and I'll move around the owl!

Thirsty birds will go after tomatoes. Put a couple bird baths away from your tomato patch...