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Sparrows stripping new leaves off acer!

c_watkinsc_watkins Posts: 53
in Problem solving
Hello everyone, 

I've had an acer P. dissectum for several years and this year I have seen sparrows stripping off the new small leaves - and I can't figure out why.  They are there every day now, slowly making it more and more bare.  There are many leaves on the ground, it's as if they strip the leaf off then toss it on the ground below - are they looking for a small part of growth I can't see?

I have never experienced this before. I have thought of trying to put a mesh or something over it for a few weeks. 

Has anyone come across this? Any ideas on prevention?  I have food available which the sparrows also eat. Perhaps there is a 'favourite' sparrow food I can lure them away from the acer with?  Many thanks for ideas and advice.
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Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Can't help you with an explanation c_watkins but the baby sparrows strip my pansies every year, pick a petal and toss it on the ground.  This year they are having a go at the Sweet Cicely, I forgive them as they are so funny to watch  :)
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    They are usually just looking for fresh new shoots.  The Blue Tits do it every year with us.  Perfectly fine, it won't harm your tree.  We also have feeders out, but sometimes nature just tastes better, and it's part of their natural behaviour.  If you see them doing it later in Spring, they will be looking for Caterpillars and other small insects, but it's a bit early for those at the moment.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    No idea why,  but if they are doing that much damage,  I would try to set up some kind of netting to keep them off until the leaves are fully formed. 
    AB Still learning

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They were nibbling at my acer a few weeks ago but it's fine now and in full leaf. I think they were after the blossom buds.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    They eat the emerging pea shoots around here, so you could sow some 'sacrificial' peas.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They'd probably include them as part of their five a day.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I don't mind tbh as they are getting Calcium for their egg shells, so I'm actually 'growing' baby sparrows! :D
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Little gits do the same to our clematis but the plants do seem to recover.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    It's pigeons and squirrels who are doing that round here. The pigeons have systematically ate all the cherry blossoms and now seem to be eating the new leaves and the squirrels are calmly sitting on the dwarf terrace wall, not a metre away from the French windows, eating my wisteria buds just above the wall.
    I did wonder whether they are trying to get more moisture into their bodies as it's been so dry here for weeks.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • caroldthompson51caroldthompson51 Posts: 1
    I looked up Black fly on my Acer and the replies were hose off and let the Sparrows do the rest , and I have seen them packing them off so perhaps that's what they are doing , I've not noticed them pulling leaves off mine .
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