What Are Birds Scared Of?

Are They Afraid Of Things Other Than Natural Predators?

By Richard Worden

No matter whether you’re trying to keep birds away or attract them to your garden, knowing what will scare them away is a key part of the process. Additionally, if you’ve got a pet bird, knowing what they’re afraid of is key to making your home more hospitable for them. So, what are birds scared of?

Things that birds are scared of include predators like cats and humans, wild birds, shiny objects, loud noises, strong magnets, and visual scarers like scarecrows and lasers. Birds will also stay away from an area that has a dead bird.

This article will look at some ways in which you can scare birds away from your backyard. Once you’re done reading this article, you’ll know what backyard modifications (if any) you need to do to attract birds or keep them away.

Birds Will Avoid Yards with Predators

If you’re looking to keep birds away naturally, predators are what you need. Like most animals, birds avoid predators, including ones commonly found in homes. 

This includes pets like cats and dogs. Most people are aware that cats are natural predators of birds – but they forget that this holds true for dogs as well. While dogs can be introduced to and live in harmony with pet birds, this is a long-term process that doesn’t hold true for unknown wild birds that haven’t been introduced to your pup.

Birds will also stay away from humans for a simple reason - our size, as compared to theirs. While some birds may be accustomed to humans, most will fly away when one approaches them.

This Includes Wild Birds

If you have a pet bird, you’ll quickly notice they’re unlikely to leave your home if there are wild birds around. However, this is generally not effective if you’re trying to keep away (or attract) wild birds.

The one time both pet and wild birds will avoid another bird is when the bird in question is a predator. If you notice a falcon or a hawk flying around in your garden, both your pets and other prey birds, like sparrows, starlings, and pigeons, will stay away.

Birds – Including Corvids – Are Scared of Shiny Objects

While there’s no explanation for this, research indicates that birds are scared of shiny objects. This is especially true of reflective objects, like glass and aluminum foil.

This is one fact I can vouch for based on my own experience. After my rooftop garden was destroyed by birds, I took to sticking a few tiles with glass shards embedded in them over my existing tiles. Since then, I haven’t had any issues with bird-led plant destruction.

Similarly, I’ve tried the aluminum foil trick by placing it on my kitchen balcony. I’ve used Reflective Scare Tape (available on Amazon.com) for this purpose. This foil tape comes in a 350ft. roll, so I don’t need to replace it too often. And ever since I’ve been using it, the balcony has been clear of all birds.

But, you may wonder, what about corvids – especially magpies?

It’s a popular belief that magpies and other members of the corvid family are attracted to shiny things, leading people to hide their expensive jewelry if they know there’s a mischief of magpies in the area. However, research suggests that this anecdote isn’t true.

In fact, one study showed magpies two piles of food – one near shiny screws and other shiny objects, and one near non-shiny objects (or nothing). The magpies avoided the food that was near the shiny objects. 

The reports of magpies and crows being attracted to shiny objects are likely confirmation bias, where every story confirming this “fact” is given outsized importance. Additionally, the cases where these birds actually do make away with shiny objects may be due to a textural preference rather than a preference for shininess. what are birds scared of

As mentioned, there’s no apparent reason why this strategy works – maybe birds dislike their own reflection, think that it indicates the presence of another bird, or are simply disconcerted by the shine – but there’s clear evidence that it does work. 

So, as it stands, shiny, reflective objects are an excellent way to scare away birds from your backyard (or your roof).

Birds Dislike Loud Noises

Birds are extremely sensitive to loud noises. Like humans, if a noise is too loud, it can damage their auditory receptors, which is why they tend to stay away.

If you’ve got a bird problem, one natural way to fix it is to install auditory bird scarers in your backyard. These come in several variations, including:

• Propane cannons
• Electronic repellers
• Ultrasonic scarers
• Cartridge scarers

However, the drawback is that these can be annoying to you, any other people in your home, and other pets as well. However, they work well during emergencies, which is why I keep a propane cannon in my home. 

While it’s not something I’d use regularly, it can come in extremely handy when there are a lot of birds flocking in my backyard, and it’s the most effective auditory scarer around. what are birds scared of

If you’re looking for a propane cannon, I recommend the Good Life, Inc Propane Gas Scare Cannon from Amazon.com. Though it’s a bit expensive, it covers 7-10 acres of land and is good for up to 17,000 blasts, so you’re unlikely to need to replace it anytime soon. 

Birds Are Repelled by Strong Magnets

If you need a safe, natural way to keep away birds that won’t affect you or your pets (unless you have a pet bird), try a magnetic bird repeller. 

These devices are essentially extremely powerful magnets that keep birds away by interfering with their sense of direction. Birds navigate using the earth’s magnetic field, and the magnets confuse this field.

To learn more about how birds navigate, take a look at this interesting YouTube video:

Visual Scarers Are a Low-Cost Bird Deterrent

Visual deterrents essentially work by either being shiny and reflective, as mentioned above, or replicating the look of a predator that birds would otherwise be wary of.

The most common visual scarer is a scarecrow, which is generally in the shape of a human. However, your scarecrow can take any form, including those of birds of prey and other predators – your imagination is your only limit.

Other visual scarers include lasers. Lasers are especially effective at night because of the contrast between the light of the environment and the light emitted by the laser. Lasers are so effective in scaring birds that they have been used to protect birds in a poultry farm against avian influenza spread by wild birds.

Finally, you can also use balloons. Balloons are a low-cost option for scaring away birds, and the natural movement acts as a bird deterrent.

They’re also practical as they can easily be adapted to the birds’ own ability to adapt to visual scarers like scarecrows. All you need to do is to use a marker to draw on eye illustrations. In fact, some balloons come with pre-drawn illustrations that resemble the eyes of birds of prey like owls for this reason.

Dead Birds Are an Effective Visual Scarer

An interestingly effective visual scarer is a dead bird. This isn’t a tactic that homeowners would use because of the associated smell, but it can be effective in larger areas, such as large plots of farmland or airports.

The sight of a dead bird indicates to other birds the presence of a predator in the area. Birds will initially approach the corpse, thinking it to be another bird – only to leave as soon as they realize the bird is positioned unnaturally.

Some homeowners use this tendency to create fake dead birds that essentially function as smaller scarecrows. However, like traditional scarecrows, there is the risk that birds will adapt to the presence of the “scarecrow.”

What Are Birds Scared Of...Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to get birds to avoid your backyard without hurting them, you’re in luck – there are several things they are afraid of, including shiny objects, visual scarers like lasers and balloons, and strong magnets. You can also place a replica dead bird or use loud noises to scare them away. 

And if you want to make your backyard welcoming for birds, the most important thing you need to do is ensure it is clear of these things!

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Hi! I'm Richard Worden, the author and founder of We Know Birds.

Over 20 years ago I developed a keen interest in birds and birdwatching, and it has been my passion ever since. I am committed to spreading useful knowledge about birds to others so we might all enjoy them to the fullest.

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