Can A Disco Ball Make Birds Hustle Away From Your Fruit Trees?

American robins, cedar waxwings, common grackles, and red-winged blackbirds are just a few of the bird species that are wild about fruit. These birds are so enamored of sweet cherries and blueberries, for example, that they can cause serious damage to crop yields. Creating a netting barrier is one way to banish birds from your backyard, but such barriers can also be dangerous for many creatures. So, how about disco balls? These glimmering orbs have more than stood the test of time: They won't accidentally ensnare any garden animals, and they're inexpensive, too. 

Many birds find reflective objects scary because they associate them with predators. That's why some gardeners hang shiny CDs from fruit trees. It's also the logic for placing aluminum foil on grapevines, as well as sticking reflective tape on windows to stop birds from crashing into them. Disco balls will have the exact same effect — and they'll look great at the same time. 

Although there aren't many scientists studying disco balls' ability to keep birds out of fruit trees, anecdotal evidence suggests that this hack really is worth a try. Garden-loving social media users report that this method safeguards their blueberries, tomatoes, and other produce. Some vineyards even use disco balls to divert birds away from their grapes.

Hanging mirror-studded disco balls in your fruit trees means that they'll reflect light when the sun shines, and they'll spin and sway when the wind blows. Both of these effects tend to startle birds enough to make them leave the immediate area. Each glimmer the mirrors produce is likely to frighten them off — or, at the very least, confuse them enough that they feel threatened. Their feathers will get even more ruffled when the wind hits the disco balls in your fruit trees: When the spheres themselves move, so do the flashes of light they produce.

Unlike some other bird deterrents, disco balls are a breeze to hang and easy to shift to your most bird-prone tree branches. That said, as birds get accustomed to the presence of an object, they're less likely to associate it with danger and may stop avoiding it. Keep them guessing by putting disco balls in new spots every so often, much as you would with a squirrel-deterring owl decoy.

Disco balls may be able to address other bird-related problems in your yard, too. For instance, these sparkly spheres are sometimes used to keep birds of prey away from backyard chicken coops. Hawks are notorious for swooping in and grabbing hens they think would make an excellent dinner. On occasion, they'll even fly off with a small dog or cat. Although these birds aren't too afraid of getting pecked or scratched, they're generally freaked out by shiny objects. Knowing this, some keepers have turned their henhouses into mini-discotheques, hanging disco balls in strategic spots to scare off hawks and other raptors. In addition to gaining another layer of predator protection, the hens also end up looking like they're learning the Hustle; after witnessing the fun on TikTok, at least a few chicken owners have bought disco balls just to bring good moods to their broods.

As an added bonus, disco balls can discourage birds from nesting in inconvenient places in your yard. After building nests in chimneys, front-door wreaths, and other unsafe or impractical spots, birds often make a mess nearby. This can spread pathogens and keep you from wanting to spend time in some parts of your yard. Placing light-scattering objects such as disco balls near gutters, light fixtures, and other nesting areas may convince birds to lay eggs somewhere that's less risky for them — and less of a hassle for you. Just be sure the disco balls don't get direct sunlight, as mirrored objects can lead to deadly fires under certain conditions.