However, the neighbourhood crows and grackles discovered the tasty morsels too and I waged war with them in an effort to save some grapes for ourselves.
The birds made friends with two scarecrows which stood watch around the plant.
It looked like the crows nodded in greeting as they proceeded to decimate the vine. They'd land on the patio railing and stare down at the grapes to figure out how to get some of the more inaccessible purple orbs. I took to scaring the crows away myself but they became more brazen over time and didn't move until I was almost close enough to touch them. They taunted and mocked me with that special caw crows make when they are irritated.
This past week, everything changed. I picked the grapes and the crows watched the proceedings. While I worked, two of them watched from the yard next door.
They talked to each other and signaled their friends about my work around their grapes. The thieves also bade farewell to the inept scarecrows. I trimmed the plant after I picked the fruit and this really puzzled them. The birds landed on the patio railing, as they always did, looking down for the vines and their sweet juicy treats. Nothing. They moved their heads around as if puzzled by what they didn't see. The crows haven't been back...until next year. Meanwhile, I've put my accessories away until the end of this month.
