Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / July 2008

I've caught two robins today eating our grapes and current tomatoes.

Seriously.  I thought I was seeing things, never have seen or heard of
this before, but here is one study/reference to robins pilfering
grapes....

http://www.ajevonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/4/161

What should I do?  Should I put poison on the vines?  Or shoot them?
Set up a propane cannon to frighten them and the neighbors and attract
the cops?  Should I begin an all out pre-emptive process of eradication
of robins, and cedar waxwings for that matter,  in order to keep my
grapes?

They are *mine*, I say, all *mine*....my grapes and 'maters and no
stinking filthy no-good vermin tomato/grape-thieving robin deserves a
one of them,  not a danged one!

Or should I just enjoy watching the action and know that other
creatures are benefitting from our crop.  Ya' learn sumpthin' everyday,
it seems.  Some interesting fun things and some ugly sad things.

Charlie

"All for ourselves, and nothing for other people, seems, in every age
of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the masters of mankind."

                                               Adam Smith