Birds attacking lawn

[chongalolo]

We had lovely new turf laid in our garden earlier this year, but the birds are ripping up all the grass and leaving great holes. Does anyone know how I can prevent them from doing this - I am normally kind to all creatures but this is making me crazy and I'm having murderous thoughts....

[liquoricemad]

If it's starlings, they're probably after Leatherjackets, which turn into crane flies (daddy long legs). The crane flies will all emerge soon so the problem will soon end. (The turf was probably cut from a meadow - next year they are not as likely to lay their eggs in your lawn as they would be out in the countryside).

[woofgang]

If the birds don't get the larvae, then the larvae will eat the grass roots and patches of your lawn will die. We had this happen to us 2 gardens ago and had the people who had laid it back to replace it as about 3/4 of it died

[chongalolo]

Thanks for the info.  So now we love the birds and hate the larvae.  I knew I was too small the fight the power of nature.  I surrender.