- Free UK delivery on orders over £75
- Spikes, netting and deterrents in one place
- Delivery in 5-7 days after a 24-48 hour handling time
- Tracking number emailed as soon as your order ships
Bird Reflective Tape | Bird Scare Ribbon | Bird Flash Tape
Movement and glare, over open ground.
Nothing To Drill · Moves And Flashes · Harmless · Cut To Any Length
Bird Reflective Tape | Bird Scare Ribbon | Bird Flash Tape
- Nothing To Drill
- Moves And Flashes
- Harmless
- Cut To Any Length
Option: Single Roll
Price: £15
- Delivery time: after a 24 to 48 hour handling time
- Free UK delivery on orders £75+, otherwise a flat £22
- Pay by card or PayPal, handled by the payment provider
- 14 days to change your mind, plus your statutory rights
Often bought together
Product specifications
| Type | Non contact visual and audible deterrent |
|---|---|
| Material | Holographic reflective film |
| Finish | Silver on one face, red on the other, for maximum flash as it turns |
| Fitting | Tie between posts, canes, wires or branches, or hang as streamers |
| Cutting | Scissors |
| Best for | Gardens, allotments, fruit, open ground, balconies and boats |
| Not for | Enclosed ledges and sheltered spots, where there is no wind to move it |
| Roll length | PENDING SUPPLIER CONFIRMATION. The live listing described 90 m rolls while the catalogue code reads 100 m, so we are confirming which is correct rather than publishing a figure we cannot stand behind |
Shipping & returns
Tracked delivery anywhere in the UK. It is free on orders of £75 or more, and a flat £22 below that. Allow 5 to 7 days, after a 24 to 48 hour handling time.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you have 14 days from delivery to cancel for any reason, and a further 14 days to send it back in resaleable condition. We refund the price you paid, including standard delivery. You cover the cost of returning it unless the item is faulty.
If it arrives faulty, damaged or not as described, we put it right at no cost to you under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, return postage included.
Looking after it
Re-tension it after a gale. Tape that has gone slack stops moving, and tape that does not move stops working.
About this product
Movement and glare, over open ground.
Holographic scare tape that flashes and rattles in the wind. For gardens, allotments, fruit and open space, where a spike strip has nothing to fix to.
Over open ground there is often nothing to fix a spike to. A vegetable bed, a fruit cage, a run of allotment canes, an orchard.
Scare tape works there. It twists in the wind, throws hard flashes of light and makes a dry rattling noise, and birds treat that combination as a reason to be somewhere else.
Cut it with scissors and tie it between posts, canes, wires or branches, or hang it as loose streamers.
It is completely non contact. Nothing touches the bird.
It suits open space rather than a narrow ledge, where a spike strip or gel will always do more.
The mechanism is movement, not the tape itself. A length hanging dead still in a sheltered corner does very little. Strung where it can twist and catch the wind, it throws sharp flashes and rattles, and both of those read as danger to a feeding bird.
That is why it belongs in open space. A garden, an allotment, a fruit cage, an orchard, a balcony rail, a boat. On an enclosed ledge under a soffit there is no wind and the tape just hangs there.
Use more, shorter streamers rather than one long run. Short lengths spin faster and change direction more often, and it is the changing that birds react to.
Expect to move it. Birds habituate to anything static, and the honest position on every visual deterrent is that it works best when it changes: shift the streamers every few weeks, or add a second type of deterrent so the picture is never the same twice.
It is a seasonal, area-wide tool rather than a permanent fix for a specific ledge. Where you want something that works on day one and is still working in five years without attention, that is what the steel spike strips are for.
Still deciding?
Not sure yet? That is fine.
You can change your mind. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 you have 14 days from delivery to cancel for any reason, and a further 14 days to send it back in resaleable condition. We refund the price you paid, including standard delivery.
If it turns up faulty, damaged or not as described, that is on us. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers you, we pay the return postage, and you can have a repair, a replacement or your money back. Read the full detail on our refunds and returns page, or ask us anything before you order.
Got questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
How does scare tape work?
By moving. Wind twists it so it throws hard flashes of light and makes a dry rattle, and birds read that as a reason to feed somewhere else.
Does it touch or harm the bird?
No. It is completely non contact.
Where does it work best?
Open ground: gardens, allotments, fruit cages, orchards, balcony rails and boats. Anywhere with wind.
Where does it not work?
Sheltered, enclosed spots. On a ledge under a soffit there is no wind, so the tape hangs still and does very little. Use spikes or gel there.
How do I put it up?
Cut it with scissors and tie it between posts, canes, wires or branches, or hang it as loose streamers.
Long runs or short streamers?
Short streamers. They spin faster and change direction more often, and it is the change birds react to.
How much do I need?
It depends on the area rather than a length of ledge. Tell us the size of the plot and we will suggest a pack.
How long is a roll?
We are confirming that with the supplier. The live listing said 90 m and the catalogue code reads 100 m, and we would rather check than publish a number we cannot stand behind.
What is the difference between the packs?
Quantity only. Single roll, 3 rolls or 10 rolls of the same tape.
Will birds get used to it?
Yes, eventually. Birds habituate to anything that never changes. Move the streamers every few weeks, or pair the tape with a second deterrent.
Can I combine it with other deterrents?
Yes, and it is usually the better plan. Tape over the open ground, spikes or netting on the structures.
Does it work on pigeons?
In open ground, yes. On a ledge a pigeon has decided to roost on, a spike strip is far more reliable.
Does it work on seagulls?
It helps on open ground, but gulls are bold. For roofs and structures use spikes or netting.
Does it work on small birds?
Yes, and this is one of the few products that does. Small birds are exactly who it is aimed at over fruit and vegetable beds.
Will it stop birds eating my fruit?
It reduces the pressure a great deal. For complete protection over fruit, netting is the only thing that physically excludes them.
Is it weatherproof?
Yes, it is made to live outdoors for a season. Re-tension it after a gale, because slack tape stops moving.
Will it fade?
The holographic finish dulls with prolonged sun over time, which is another reason it is treated as a seasonal item rather than a permanent fixture.
Can I reuse it next year?
Often yes, if it has been taken down and stored dry. Tape that has been up through a winter is usually best replaced.
Is it noisy?
It rattles softly in wind. In a garden that is barely noticeable; strung right outside a bedroom window it might not be.
Will it annoy my neighbours?
It can flash brightly in low sun. It is worth thinking about which way it faces if a neighbour's window looks onto it.
Can I use it on a balcony?
Yes, balconies are a good use for it, and there is usually enough wind.
Can I use it on a boat?
Yes, and it is popular for exactly that. Gulls on a moored boat are a common problem and there is plenty of wind.
Can I use it indoors?
No, not usefully. There is no wind, so nothing moves.
Is it safe for pets and wildlife?
Yes. There is nothing sharp, sticky or toxic about it.
Can birds get tangled in it?
It is a solid ribbon rather than a mesh, so it does not snag feet the way loose netting can. Keep it taut rather than leaving long loose loops.
How quickly does it work?
Straight away, as soon as it is moving.
Can I cut it to length?
Yes, ordinary scissors.
Is there anything I should check before I fit it?
Yes. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to damage or destroy a nest while it is being built or in use. If there is an active nest on the surface, leave it until the nest is finished with.
How much is delivery?
Free on orders over £75. Below that it is £22, and there is no minimum order.
Can I return it?
Yes. You have 14 days from delivery to change your mind under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and everything we sell is a standard stock item so that applies to the whole range.
Page summary
Bird Scare Tape sold by Bird Spikes Company at mybirdspikes.co.uk. Holographic reflective ribbon, silver on one face and red on the other, cut with scissors and tied between posts, canes, wires or branches or hung as loose streamers. It deters birds by movement: wind twists it so it throws sharp flashes of light and makes a dry rattling noise. Sold in single, 3 roll and 10 roll packs. It is a non contact deterrent and never touches the bird. It suits open ground such as gardens, allotments, fruit cages, orchards, balconies and boats, and is NOT suited to enclosed or sheltered ledges where there is no wind to move it; a spike strip or repellent gel is the right product there. Short streamers spin more than one long run and work better. Birds habituate to any static visual deterrent, so the tape is moved every few weeks or combined with another deterrent. The roll length is pending supplier confirmation because the live listing and the catalogue code disagree. Delivery is UK wide, free over GBP 75, otherwise GBP 22.