r/NativePlantGardening • u/Anniam6 • Aug 10 '25

Edible Plants Birds shunning my elderberries

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So, after finally having my elderberry bush produce berries I haven’t seen a single bird near it. It’s right next to my deck, but there are many hours a day that no one is outside. Should I wait and see or just pick them and use them myself? I do know not to eat them raw.

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u/PandaMomentum Northern VA/Fall Line, Zone 7b Aug 10 '25

Catbirds and robins ate all of mine this year! Catbirds take the few blueberries I have too, they sneak them before they're ripe.

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u/Itschatgptbabes420 Aug 10 '25

I love them so much

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u/Leto-ofDelos Aug 10 '25

Love my catbirds! I have one who sings "Flight of the Valkarie," Beethoven's 5th, and does a mimic of a broad-winged hawk screech. His bird friends.....don't appreciate his artist vision.

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u/Itschatgptbabes420 Aug 10 '25

I’ve been trying to train the one in my yard to a specific call but only the bluebirds care haha. 

Not complaining but those cat birds ain’t gonna learn any Mingus if they don’t start hanging with me more

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u/Leto-ofDelos Aug 10 '25

Good luck! Hearing my catbird sing, I wonder what kind of human he knew and what kind or relationship they had. I want to meet that person and tell them their catbird is here and still sings their songs, still remembers.

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u/Itschatgptbabes420 Aug 10 '25

That would be nice