oh and I'm wondering if anyone knows what type of birds they are. They're about robin sized with shiny black head and neck and a matte black body with a yellowish beak.

Well I guess since no one responded I'll just post what seemed to work. All I did was drive in my posts for my trellis netting and string fishing like across then hung 2 cd's from the fishing line. It seems to be keeping the birds away from the plants.

jeremis
I'll tell you the same thing I mentioned another time on this forum. What works best for me is a cheap portable radio tuned to a RAP station and placed near the plants. It don't have to be real loud and I'm not sure it needs to be RAP. I chose RAP since it's the most obnoxious sound I know of.

Bird netting at Lowes

Since I've put up the fishing line and cd's the black birds have left my plants alone. I no longer see then anywhere near that side of the yard either. It doesn't seem to bother the robins, but they're just looking for worms. I'll keep the radio idea in mind though in case what I did suddenly stops working. Thanks.

I have birds to but they are eating my tomatoes as they ripen. I'm looking into the bird netting. Any feedback on using it?