Canberra has wonderful birdlife but the curawongs, cockatoos, rosellas, and starlings quickly find ripening fruit, leaving it damaged or gone before you’ve had a chance to pick. Fortunately, there are reliable, wildlife-friendly ways to keep birds away from your fruit without harming them.
Make sure you get to the apples before the birds.
Netting – the most effective method
Netting remains the number one solution for protecting fruit trees. Modern wildlife-safe netting has a mesh size of 5 mm or smaller, preventing birds and flying foxes from becoming entangled. Choose white netting, which is easier for wildlife to see and lasts longer in the sun.
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For small trees, drape netting over the canopy and secure it to the ground/
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For larger gardens, consider a frame or walk-in net structure to make access easier. We do this with star pickets and polypipe arches over the tree and then put the net over the whole structure so the branches don’t get tangled up with the net.
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Always check edges are secured — even small gaps can let birds inside.
Fruit bagging – perfect for smaller trees
For dwarf or espaliered trees, individual fruit bags are an excellent option. These slip over clusters of fruit and protect against both birds and insects. Mesh, cloth, or even paper bags are available, and they allow airflow while shielding fruit until harvest.
Visual and sound deterrents – short-term solutions
Christmas decorations in particular tinsel, reflective tape, CDs, scare-eye balloons, or wind chimes can discourage birds in the short term. However, birds are clever and quickly adapt. These methods work best when used alongside netting or bagging.
Tree management – keep them small
Pruning fruit trees to a manageable height makes protection far easier. Tall, unpruned trees are difficult to net or bag effectively. Regular pruning, or choosing dwarf varieties, ensures you can cover your crop each season without a major struggle.
Distraction planting – optional backup
Some gardeners plant alternative food sources, such as sunflowers or mulberries, away from fruit trees to draw birds’ attention. This can reduce pressure on your main crop, though it rarely works on its own.
Why wildlife-safe methods matter
Cheap black netting with large holes should be avoided — small birds, bats, and reptiles can easily become entangled and injured. By choosing the right netting or using bags, you protect your harvest and the local wildlife that makes our gardens so special.