lucas asks:What can you do to keep birds away from apple trees and grapes?

I have heard many gardners complain of a similar problem and some do use quite innovative techniques. For apples I suggest paper lunch bags. When the fruits are just green cover them with the bags and tie with a cord around the branch. Birds can't see them and thus the apples are safe till ripe. For grapes a good idea is to keep the upper foliage dense. This helps hide the fruits from the bird's view. Netting is also a solution but a bit cumbersome.

In a spray bottle, combine water and a little bit of eco-friendly liquid soap, shake well before each use. Spray the fruit on the tree with the water and soap mixture. This will help keep the birds from eating your fruit. Though, keep in mind this option might not be a very good one if your tree is too tall for you to do this to the fruit on your tree. Good luck!

a few asked me how we kept the fruit from the birds
well when I first pruned them I created arches of the branches
to get the effect of being inside the draping boughs

from there the exposed tops of the boughs saw fit to grow vertically in spears
themselves bearing no fruit but making entry more difficult for the birds

the spears are cut off after harvest yearly for the tree to rest and gain strength for fruit next year
there is also a very healthy variety of bird species who treat this farm like a time-share

there are even eucalypt hollows which are shared by many species on roster

this mix means no dominance generally
although the sulphur-crested cockatoos did originally decimate the apples in year one
and even now occasionally flock in disturbing numbers

when they get hungry enough they will eat everything palatable in sight
the crimson rosellas take a consistent nibble but then so do we

during your trip to gardenfarm hiawatha if you happened to notice the ancient apple tree in the near southern paddock you will have seen
bare (of fruit) top branches eaten out by the cockies in fits and starts rather than raids
but on the bottom branches ie accessible only from underneath the apples are in good health
this is how I have arrived at my theory and strategy in the house orchard
together with a deal of good fortune!

Hanging suncatchers, or any largely reflective surface on the trees of near the treeline can scare birds off. Just make sure to avoid using reflective metallic strips, as these can comes loose and pollute the area.