I had a terrible time last year with Baltimore Orioles pecking holes in my ripening tomatoes, then teaching their young to do the same. This year, probably a month before I expected, I have tomatoes that are getting ripe. I had plans to erect a house of netting around the whole thing, but thought I had weeks to spare. In the mean time, I now wrap the ripening tomatoes in wet paper towels, to hide them from the birds.
On another note, in years past, I would always see honey bees working the flowers in the garden, but not this year. I have also noted that the zucchini are not producing well. About half the little squash just wither and drop off without ever being pollinated.
HC
